Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Ivory Coast centre‑back Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP, securing the 22‑year‑old defender on a four‑year contract. The club agreed to a fixed transfer fee of roughly £34.3 million (about €40 million) after a protracted period of negotiations between the two sides. The move was largely driven by Forest’s head coach Oliver Glasner, who had previously expressed interest in Diomande when he was still at Crystal Palace.
Glasner’s persistence paid off, and the defender’s arrival is expected to bolster the club’s defensive options considerably. Diomande’s résumé is impressive for a player of his age.
Over the past four seasons at Sporting CP, he made 132 appearances across all competitions, found the net seven times and helped the Lisbon‑based side capture the Primeira Liga title on two occasions. In the 2024‑25 campaign he was a key figure in Sporting’s domestic double, winning both the league and the cup, and he also contributed to the team’s progression to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League. On the international stage, Diomande has become a regular for the Ivory Coast national team. He has earned 15 caps and was part of the squad that lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023 – the nation’s first triumph in eight years.
He also featured in one match at the summer World Cup, gaining valuable experience against the world’s elite. Speaking after the announcement, Diomande said, "I am very happy to be here.
It is a historic club, and it motivates me to join such a club. I believe we can achieve very good things this season and I am looking forward to meeting the players and head coach. I will give my best and all I can to help the team.
I cannot wait to meet the supporters at the City Ground and together we can have a good season." Forest’s chief football officer George Syrianos added his own comments, noting, "We have been very clear on the profile of player we want to add to the squad, so we are excited to welcome Ousmane to the club. He has fantastic experience for a defender of his age. Playing a crucial role in title‑winning teams and going into the latter stages of the Champions League puts him in a great position to integrate well here at Forest.
Ousmane is a powerful, commanding defender, and arrives here with a winning mentality. He shares the same ambition for success we have, and we are excited to see the impact he can have in a Forest shirt." Diomande’s arrival comes at a time when Forest are looking to strengthen a back line that has shown vulnerability in recent campaigns.
His physical presence, aerial ability, and composure on the ball should provide manager Oliver Glasner with more tactical flexibility, allowing the team to adopt a higher defensive line or to play a more possession‑based style without fearing exposure at the back. Beyond his defensive duties, Diomande’s knack for scoring occasional goals – seven in his Sporting tenure – adds an extra dimension. Set‑piece situations, where his height and timing can be decisive, could become a valuable weapon for Forest, especially in tightly contested matches. The transfer also reflects a broader trend of Premier League clubs investing heavily in young, proven talent from the Portuguese league, which has become a fertile ground for players ready to make the step up to England’s top flight.
By securing Diomande, Forest not only improve their squad depth but also send a clear signal to supporters and rivals alike that they are committed to competing at a higher level. In addition to the Diomande signing, the announcement listed a series of other transfer movements involving various clubs, ranging from undisclosed fees to free transfers and loans.
While many of these names are associated with clubs outside the Premier League, they illustrate the busy nature of the summer market and the myriad of deals that clubs negotiate each year. Overall, Ousmane Diomande’s transfer to Nottingham Forest represents a significant investment in a player who has already demonstrated the ability to win trophies, perform on the European stage, and contribute to his national team’s success.
If he can adapt quickly to the pace and physicality of the English game, Forest could see a marked improvement in defensive stability and perhaps add a new source of goals from set pieces, helping the club to achieve its ambitions for the upcoming season.