Nottingham Forest welcomes Nigeria international defender Ola Aina
Nottingham Forest have announced the signing of Nigerian international defender, Ola Aina. Credit: None
Nottingham Forest have announced the signing of Nigerian international defender, Ola Aina.
Aina, who recently left Italian side Torino, has signed a one-year deal with Nottingham Forest, making him the club's first signing of the summer. The contract also includes options for future terms.
Aina is joining Nottingham Forest after a stint of nearly five years with Torino, during which he made 102 appearances in Italy's Serie A.
Born in London, Aina is a former Chelsea academy graduate, joining the Blues at the under-11 level and progressing through the ranks at Stamford Bridge.
Aina has represented England at all age groups from under-16 to under-20. However, he pledged allegiance to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in 2017 and has since earned 30 international caps.
After his professional debut for Chelsea in August 2016, Aina left for Italy in 2019, only to make a short return to the Premier League via a loan move to Fulham during the 2020/21 campaign.
The 26-year-old played 33 times for Fulham in a season that saw him shortlisted for the Premier League Goal of the Season Award for a stunning strike against West Bromwich Albion.
On his move to Forest, Aina expressed his excitement: "I'm very excited to be here and I can't wait to get started. I wanted to be back on English soil again and Forest is a club which has an exciting project and team. It's exciting to be back playing in the Premier League. I always want to challenge myself and I can't wait for it."
Nottingham Forest's Head Coach, Steve Cooper, and Chief Football Officer, Ross Wilson, also expressed their pleasure with Aina's arrival.
Cooper said, "We're really pleased that Ola has joined us. He's a versatile player who has good experience of the Premier League and Serie A."
Wilson added: “We are pleased to welcome Ola to Forest. In the discussions that Steve and I have had with him we can see how excited he is to join Forest and return to the Premier League after enjoying his time outside of England in Serie A.”
