Ousmane Diomande joins Forest from Sporting in a €40m deal, signing until 2030 with an option for another year

Nottingham Forest have officially signed Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting in a €40 million transfer, with the 22-year-old agreeing a contract until June 2030 and an option to extend it by another year.

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The Premier League club confirmed the deal on Tuesday, completing a major defensive addition ahead of the new season. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also confirmed that Sporting will receive a €40 million transfer fee for the centre-back.

The agreement means Diomande is tied to Forest until June 2030, with the additional option potentially keeping him at the City Ground until June 2031.

The move represents a significant investment by Forest as the club continue to strengthen their squad and add quality to their defensive options.

Diomande arrives in England after establishing himself as an important player at Sporting, where he developed into one of the more highly regarded young central defenders in Portuguese football.

The Ivory Coast international joined Sporting from Danish club FC Midtjylland in January 2023 after impressing during a loan spell at Mafra.

Sporting paid an initial €7.5 million for the defender, with the agreement potentially rising to €12.5 million through add-ons. His performances in Portugal subsequently attracted considerable interest from clubs across Europe.

Diomande quickly became an important part of Sporting’s first-team plans. His strength, pace and ability to play the ball out from defence made him particularly valuable in a side that regularly looked to control possession and build attacks from the back.

The defender also helped Sporting win the Portuguese league title in 2023/24 and 2024/25, as well as the Portuguese Cup in 2025.

His development has also continued at international level.

Diomande made his senior Ivory Coast debut in 2023 and was part of the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 2024, giving him valuable experience on one of the continent’s biggest stages.

The move to Forest now gives him an opportunity to test himself regularly in the Premier League.

Forest have been active in strengthening their squad ahead of the new campaign, and Diomande’s arrival is expected to provide greater competition and depth in central defence.

His arrival is also an important statement of intent from the club. A €40 million investment represents a substantial commitment to a defender who is still only 22 and has considerable room for further development.

Forest did not disclose the financial details in their official announcement, but the €40 million figure has been confirmed by Romano.

Reuters also reported that the Premier League club had completed the signing on a four-year contract with a one-year extension option.

For Sporting, the transfer represents a significant return on the investment made when Diomande arrived from Midtjylland three years ago.

For Diomande, meanwhile, the move marks the biggest challenge of his club career so far.

The defender will now have to adapt to the pace and physical demands of English football while competing for a regular place in Forest’s defence.

His versatility, athleticism and composure in possession could prove valuable as Forest look to build a more resilient defensive unit.

The transfer also continues the growing movement of highly rated young players from Portuguese football into the Premier League, with Sporting once again benefiting from its reputation for developing and selling elite talent.

Diomande leaves Portugal having established himself as a two-time league champion and a full Ivory Coast international.

He now begins a new chapter in Nottingham, with Forest securing his services on a long-term deal that could keep him at the club until 2031.

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The €40 million investment underlines Forest’s confidence in the defender and their belief that Diomande can become a key figure at the City Ground for years to come.