Nottingham Forest face Crystal Palace and West Ham next.placeholder image
Nottingham Forest face Crystal Palace and West Ham next. | Getty Images
Crystal Palace host Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park this weekend and the visitors could hand a new signing a debut.
Nottingham Forest have confirmed the signing of Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz ahead of their upcoming fixtures against Crystal Palace and West Ham before the international break.
Forest kicked off their Premier League campaign with a convincing 3-1 win over Brentford and will have added bite in the centre of the park when they travel to Selhurst Park on Sunday, and when the Hammers visit the City Ground later this month.
Luiz, who is well known to the Premier League thanks to his time at Aston Villa, has signed on a season-long deal but Nottingham Forest have the ‘conditional obligation’ to make the switch permanent come the end of the campaign.
Nottingham Forest confirm Douglas Luiz transfer
Speaking about the signing, Chief Football Officer, Ross Wilson, said: “It’s been a very busy but successful period for us in the window in the past few weeks, and Douglas is another addition to the squad that will bring significant quality to the group.
“He’s played at the highest level for a long time, understands the demands of the Premier League, and has experience playing in elite European competition. We’re delighted that Douglas now joins the group, and we are sure that he will be warmly welcomed by everyone at Nottingham Forest."
Luiz could make his debut against Crystal Palace this weekend. Premier League clubs must register players by 12 pm the day prior to kick-off in order for them to be eligible to feature, as is laid out in the Premier League handbook.
It states: "Subject to the provisions of Rule V.1, the deadline for receipt by the Board of all duly completed documents required by these Rules to effect the registration of a Player shall be 12 noon on the last Working Day before the date of the first League Match in which the Club making the application intends him to play, save that the international transfer certificate and evidence of eligibility to take up employment in the United Kingdom (in both cases if applicable) may be provided thereafter (but must be provided before the Player is eligible to play for a Club in a League Match."
Luiz record against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest
Luiz has played against Crystal Palace 10 times in his career, winning five and drawing one. He scored against the Eagles at Villa Park in a 3-1 win in 2023. The midfielder has faced West Ham nine times, winning one and drawing four, and bagged a brace in a 4-1 win in 2023.
Luiz earned plaudits for his time in the Premier League while at Villa Park. Speaking in 2023, former top flight star Jermaine Pennant even said the midfielder was better than Declan Rice. He said on talkSPORT: "Any team would dream to have Rice, but there are better sixes in the Premier League at the moment. I would say Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa, I think he can do everything that Rice can do and better.
“I think he assists more, he chips in with goals more than Rice. Creativity-wise he's better, flair is better, he can put in a tackle just like Rice, break up play just like Rice. So I think if someone said to me you can have Douglas Luiz for £60m or Declan Rice for £100m, easy every day of the week, Douglas Luiz.”
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