Nottingham Forest confirm: Diomande arrives for €40 million
The young Ivory Coast international has signed a contract until 2030, and coach Glasner has finally secured the center-back he had been targeting since his time at Crystal Palace.
The young Ivory Coast international has signed a contract until 2030, and coach Glasner has finally secured the center-back he had been targeting since his time at Crystal Palace.
Nottingham Forest have officially confirmed the signing of Ousmane Diomande, a 22-year-old defender from Ivory Coast, from Portuguese club Sporting. The transfer was announced on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, and according to Fabrizio Romano, the contract runs until June 2030 with an option to extend for an additional season, until June 2031.
The fee paid by the English club to Sporting Lisbon amounts to €40 million. While various figures have been reported, Sky Sports clarifies that the fixed transfer fee is around £34.3 million, which corresponds to the aforementioned amount in euros, while the BBC cites a figure of £34 million.
A key role in bringing Diomande to Nottingham Forest was played by head coach Oliver Glasner. According to Sky Sports, Glasner pushed for this transfer after having unsuccessfully tried to sign the young center-back during his time at Crystal Palace.
The player himself did not hide his excitement about joining his new club. "I'm really happy to be here. This is a historic club and that motivates me to join. I believe we can achieve great things this season, and I'm looking forward to meeting my teammates and the head coach. I'll give my all," Diomande told BBC Football.
Despite being just 22 years old, Diomande already boasts impressive experience. He made 132 appearances for Sporting's first team and has earned 15 caps for the Ivory Coast national team. One of the highlights of his career was participating in the 2026 World Cup.
Diomande's transfer represents a significant investment by Nottingham Forest in their defensive line ahead of the Premier League season, and the club hopes the young international will quickly justify the trust and the substantial fee.