Nottingham Forest near £34m deal for Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande

Nottingham Forest are on the brink of securing Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP for a reported €40 million, roughly £34.3 million, pending a medical and the signing of a five-year deal. The 22-year-old has logged 132 appearances for Sporting after moving from Midtjylland in early 2023 and has represented Ivory Coast 16 times, including at the recent World Cup. His arrival follows the free-transfer signing of Xaver Schlager and new long-term contracts for Ibrahim Sangare and Murillo, reflecting a strategic rebuild under Oliver Glasner.

Diomande’s physical stature and ball-playing ability are seen as the missing element in Glasner’s preferred back-three, complementing the aerial strength of Nikola Milenkovic and the mobility of Murillo. The transfer also demonstrates Forest’s willingness to compete with other European clubs for a high-profile defender. If completed, the deal will be one of the most notable defensive signings in the Premier League window so far.