Yasin Ayari
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yasin Ayari insists he didn’t focus much on Nottingham Forest’s interest in the winter market.
The Sweden international arrived at The Amex from AIK Fotboll in January 2023 and had loan spells at Coventry City and Blacburn Rovers.
He started enjoying regular minutes at Brighton after Fabian Hürzeler took over from Roberto De Zerbi in 2024. Ayari has played 70 matches and 66 are under the current manager.
His performances for the Premier League side would have convinced Nottingham Forest to make advances in January.
The 22-year-old has played 1,818 minutes from 27 matches, managing four goals and two assists, this season. Some of his Premier League statistics per game are as follows:
|Premier League 2025/26|||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Appearances|24||||
|Started|18||||
|Minutes per game|72||||
|Total minutes played|1739||||
|Goals|3||||
|Assists|2||||
||||||
||||||
Nottingham Forest showed serious interest in bringing him to the City Ground in the last window.
Brighton man responds to Nottingham Forest offer
Yasin Ayari is with the national team for the ongoing international break. He’s been talking to Fotbollskanalen, who asked him about the winter approach.
The outlet relay claims made in the UK of Brighton & Hove Albion rejecting Nottingham Forest’s £20m [€23.11m] bid for Ayari in January.
Responding to that, he said: “I’m focusing on Brighton. I feel happy there. From my side, it wasn’t something I focused on.
“That’s how it is when you’re a player. It comes (rumours and interest). Regardless of the price tag or the club, it doesn’t matter. I’m happy where I am and I just have to keep going.”
Seagulls man provides fitness update
Sweden face Ukraine in the World Cup qualifier later today, after performing poorly in the previous rounds. In November, the Brighton player lashed out at the country’s media for creating drama around the national team.
Yasin Ayari is in contention to feature against Ukraine, and Fotbollskanalen are concerned about his fitness.
He suffered a shoulder injury in February but has already returned to the pitch. Since the setback, the player has made three substitute appearances for the Seagulls.
The Brighton & Hove Albion player talked about the injury and his current situation.
“I’m in good shape. I had an injury but before that I was doing very well,” Ayari explained.
“It’s a tough injury. It’s the shoulder. So the slightest thing that affects it can make it worse. But I feel good. I’m happy. I’m here. It happened recently so I just have it to make sure nothing else happens.”
“It’s part of being a player. Injuries happen. You just have to get through it. I just came back so it’s hard to say, but everything feels good.”
Whether Nottingham Forest try again in the summer window remains to be seen.
Sweden squad for March international break
Graham Potter’s full squad
Goalkeepers: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Melker Ellborg, Noel Tornqvist
Defenders: Victor Lindelof, Isak Hien, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Carl Starfelt, Daniel Svensson, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Herman Johansson
Midfielders: Mattias Svanberg, Jesper Karlstrom, Yasin Ayari, Hugo Larsson, Lucas Bergvall, Besfort Zeneli, Gustav Lundgren, Williot Swedberg, Eric Smith, Elliot Stroud
Forwards: Viktor Gyokeres, Anthony Elanga, Gustaf Nilsson, Benjamin Nygren, Roony Bardghji, Taha Ali
🇧🇷 Álvaro Montoro & Danilo | Nottingham Forest move blocked
➡️ John Textor agreed €33m double sale
❌ Court blocks the transfers
🤔 Explanation of what’s gone on…https://t.co/VW93XzaT7j #nffc
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) March 25, 2026