July 22, (THEWILL) – Nottingham Forest have successfully added Nigerian international, Ola Aina, to their roster, securing the 26-year-old defender on a one-year deal following the expiration of his contract with Serie A side, Torino.
Aina, who previously played for Chelsea before joining the Italian club in 2018, marks Forest’s first signing for the summer transfer window. Head coach, Steve Cooper, praised Aina’s versatility and valuable experience in both the English Premier League and Serie A, noting that the new acquisition will significantly strengthen the team.
“He’s a versatile player who has good experience of the Premier League and Serie A,” Cooper said. “He’s a really good player, but a good athlete as well. He’ll definitely make the team stronger.”
Having briefly returned to the EPL during the 2020/2021 season on loan at Fulham, Aina was pleased to return to what he considered the best League in the world. The full-back spoke of his desire to continually challenge himself, which drove him to take on this new opportunity with Nottingham Forest: “It’s exciting to be back playing in the Premier League. It’s the best league in the world and I always want to challenge myself.”
Born in London, Aina initially represented England at the youth level but ultimately opted to play for Nigeria, making his senior debut for the Super Eagles in 2017. Throughout his international career, Aina has amassed 30 appearances for the green-white-green of Nigeria, displaying his skill and dedication on the pitch.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
