Nottingham Forest aim to avoid repeat scenario as defender makes transfer revelation
by Sarah Clapson · NottinghamshireLiveDefender Ola Aina has revealed Nottingham Forest almost ended up shelling out money to secure his services.
The versatile full-back has to go down as one of the Reds’ best pieces of transfer business of recent years. After leaving Torino in the summer of 2023, he put pen to paper at the City Ground as a free agent and has since established himself as a key player.
But Aina says he could have signed for the club a year before he actually did - albeit for a fee. It seems it was a case of third time lucky for Forest in pursuit of the Nigeria international.
"I was coming into my last year at Torino and initially they wanted to buy me,” Aina told the Counter Attack Podcast. “This was Forest's first season in the Prem, but Torino said no, whatever.
"I started the season and they came again in January wanting to buy me, but Torino said no. I finished the season at Torino and was a free agent, so Forest was like, ‘Yep, we'll grab him for free’. That's how it happened."
At the end of last term, Forest activated a one-year extension option on Aina’s initial 12-month deal. As it stands, it means he is due to become a free agent again next summer.
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The Reds are expected to act to prevent him from walking away for nothing. Suggestions that Serie A duo Roma and AC Milan are monitoring his situation will no doubt only hasten Forest into action, with reports from Nigeria mooting a new four-year deal Trentside could be in the offing.
Asked about the possibility of penning a new contract, Aina said last month: “All I can say is I am really happy at Forest. Fantastic club, I feel at home and we're just building.
"I'm building, the club's building. Let's just see what happens in the future."