Nottingham Forest have agreed an out-of-the-blue deal to sign one of European football’s most exciting young wingers, but there remains an issue if he is to sign for the club.
Forest want to sign two wingers to boost the strength of the squad, but have had little success thus far in attracting their targets.
After a deal looked to be progressing, Forest ended negotiations with Samuel Mbangula of Juventus, with his teammate Timothy Weah not interested in a Forest move to quickly put to bed any rumours of a double deal.
Negotiations clearly remain ongoing to address the wide areas, though, with Forest now agreeing a deal to sign a highly-rated 20-year-old winger.
Malick Fofana following the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg between Manchester United and Olympique Lyonnais
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Nottingham Forest ‘agreed deal’ for Lyon’s Malick Fofana
As Ramon Sosa is set to leave Forest for Palmeiras, the most immediate concern in the squad would be adding another left winger to compete with Callum Hudson-Odoi.
It seems as if this player may have been found, as, according to Fabrizio Romano, the Reds have agreed a deal to sign Belgian speedster Malick Fofana from Lyon.
🚨🇧🇪 EXCL: Nottingham Forest have agreed deal with Olympique Lyon for Malick Fofana… but no agreement yet on player side.
Fofana, waiting for Champions League clubs with Chelsea still keen on the player.
Understand Bayern and Napoli have also called to make initial approach. pic.twitter.com/dp8XtwDP9x
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 1, 2025
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Lyon are going through a financial crisis that has seen them relegated from Ligue 1 so it’s perhaps no surprise to see Forest pounce on one of their stars, but the deal is far from agreed on Fofana’s side.
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Fofana is reportedly “waiting for Champions League clubs”, with the likes of Chelsea and Bayern Munich listed as potential suitors for the 11-goal winger.
If Forest were able to agree on personal terms with Fofana, though, they would be acquiring a wide player with the perfect combination of experience and potential growth.
Malick Fofana would be perfect for Nottingham Forest
Almost like Anthony Elanga, Fofana has shown an ability to use his electric pace to stretch opponents, while retaining an end product.
This would give Forest enviable speed out wide, something that coaches at Lyon have been blessed with in Fofana’s time at the club.
In October 2024, former Lyon head coach Pierre Sage told the Ligue 1 website: “He’s a player with top-level potential. The next step is for him to start games and maintain his performance level.
“Once he’s able to do that consistently, we can say it’s a done deal. If he continues like this, I believe he has a very bright future ahead of him.”
With 11 goals and five assists in 41 games last season, it looks as if Fofana is making progress in finding this consistency, something that will only continue to blossom at Forest, much as it has for Elanga.