July 18, (THEWILL) — Nottingham Forest have agreed to sell Brazilian midfielder Danilo to Botafogo for a fee of approximately £21.7 million, bringing the 24-year-old’s two-and-a-half-year stint in the English Premier League to an end.
The transfer represents a significant return on Forest’s investment, having signed the player from Palmeiras in 2022 during their Championship promotion campaign.
Danilo’s move to the Rio de Janeiro club comes after a failed summer transfer to Lyon, where a similar fee had been agreed between the clubs.
The French side’s temporary demotion to Ligue 2 over financial irregularities created uncertainty that ultimately derailed negotiations, despite Lyon’s successful appeal to remain in the top flight earlier this month.
The midfielder’s Forest career began promisingly, with crucial goals helping the club avoid relegation during their first season back in the EPL.
However, his second campaign proved more challenging, and the 2024/2025 season was effectively ended after just six minutes when he suffered a serious ankle injury in Forest’s opening fixture.
Following his five-month injury layoff, Danilo struggled to regain his place in Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad, with Elliot Anderson establishing himself in the central midfield role.
The Brazilian made limited appearances upon his return, failing to recapture the form that had made him a fan favourite at the City Ground.
This transfer continues the ongoing player exchange between Forest and clubs within John Textor’s Eagle Football network.
Orel Mangala and Moussa Niakhate moved to Lyon in 2024, while Forest have recruited Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha from Botafogo this summer, creating a notable pipeline between the American businessman’s football properties.
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.
