Nottingham Forest winger Dan Ndoye has been the subject of transfer speculation ahead of the summer window
14:26, 31 May 2026
Dan Ndoye in action for Nottingham Forest
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Dan Ndoye in action for Nottingham Forest
Winger Dan Ndoye has batted away speculation about his future after a “difficult” first season at Nottingham Forest.
Last summer’s big-money move from Bologna to the City Ground hasn’t quite worked out as hoped for the Switzerland international. He found it tough to pin down a starting spot and scored just two goals in all competitions as he struggled to make an impact.
It has led to talk of the Reds trying to recoup some of the £34-35 million they splashed out to secure his signature, with Roma and Inter Milan credited with interest in the wide man. As he prepares for the upcoming World Cup, however, Ndoye has insisted his focus is on playing for his country before returning to the banks of the Trent.
“Right now, I'm just proud that we finished the season successfully,” he told Blick. “But now the World Cup is coming up. It's a big goal for me.
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“We'll see what happens after that. I have a contract with Nottingham until 2030 and I'm fully focused on that.”
Ndoye isn’t the only player to have had a challenging campaign with Forest. Four different head coaches and a relegation battle, coupled with the demands of competing in Europe, tested the whole squad.
Vitor Pereira instilled calm and stability when he took charge in February. The Portuguese guided the club to safety, as well as to the semi-finals of the Europa League.
“Sure, I haven't scored as many goals in the Premier League as I had hoped. And there have been difficult moments, as well as periods when I played less,” Ndoye said. “But unfortunately, you can't control everything.
“I always gave my all and tried to perform at my best. I can't blame myself. Because regardless of whether I'm playing or not, I'm always ready and work every day to be the best possible version of myself.
“I knew that the move from Serie A to the Premier League wouldn't be easy. It always takes some time to adjust. But in the end, it was more difficult than I had anticipated.”
He added: “Of course, so many managerial changes are far from ideal. The season, not just for me but for the entire club, was characterised by extreme highs and lows.
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“With manager Vítor Pereira, we finally found a certain stability and secured our Premier League status. It's just a shame that we didn't reach the Europa League final.”
Ndoye is not the first Swiss player to find it tricky to adapt to the Premier League after switching from Italy to the banks of the Trent. Midfielder Remo Freuler left Forest for Bologna in the summer of 2023, barely a year after his transfer from Atalanta.
Asked whether Freuler had given him any advice, Ndoye replied: “Yes, we talked about how things are going here. Despite everything, he spoke very positively about the club and shared his impressions of life here. In the end, though, it was my own decision to come to Nottingham, just like with every stop in my career.”
Ndoye missed the run-in for Vitor Pereira’s side due to injury. But he is fit to compete at the World Cup with Switzerland and hopes to have the opportunity to showcase his trademark “lion” celebration.
“I hope so. It's been a difficult year for me but I'm hungrier than ever,” he said.
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“As soon as I knew the team had secured their place in the league, I didn't want to take any more risks. Now I feel fit again and ready for the national team. And I can't wait for the World Cup to finally begin.”
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