Everton's Harrison Armstrong
Everton's Harrison Armstrong
Everton have reportedly pulled the plug on Harrison Armstrong’s proposed move to Nottingham Forest, with the reaction from supporters understood to have played a major role in the decision.
The 19-year-old midfielder looked set to leave Everton after Forest made a substantial offer for his services, but the deal now appears to have collapsed despite the two clubs having progressed to an advanced stage.
According to The Telegraph’s John Percy, Everton had accepted a £35 million bid from Forest and had even given Armstrong permission to travel.
Harrison Armstrong transfer from Everton to Forest appears OFF. #efc accepted a £35m bid + gave Harrison permission to travel with #nffc receiving written confirmation – but club ownership have now pulled the plug. Fans’ reaction to potential sale understood to be a major factor
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) August 30, 2026
Forest had also received written confirmation that the deal could proceed.
However, the proposed transfer has now been stopped by Everton’s ownership.
Percy reports that the reaction from Everton supporters to the prospect of Armstrong leaving was understood to be a major factor in the decision.
Everton had accepted £35m Armstrong bid
The latest development represents a significant change from the reports that emerged just hours earlier.
Forest had been working on a deal for Armstrong worth around £35-40 million plus a sell-on clause, with negotiations centred on a package that would have represented a major fee for a player who has made just 22 senior appearances for Everton.
It now appears that Forest had got even further than previously understood.
Everton accepted a £35m bid, while Armstrong was given permission to travel as the clubs worked towards completing the transfer.
Yet, despite those steps being taken, the ownership has now intervened and the move looks to be off.
Fan reaction changes the picture
The possibility of Armstrong leaving prompted a significant reaction from Everton supporters.
For many fans, the idea of selling a 19-year-old academy product who had begun to establish himself around David Moyes‘ first-team squad was difficult to accept, particularly given the club’s previous history of allowing promising young players to leave.
That sentiment now appears to have had a tangible impact.
Percy’s report specifically states that the reaction from supporters was understood to be a major factor in the decision to pull the plug.
That is a remarkable development given how advanced the transfer had apparently become.
Opinion: Everton have made the right call
From an Everton perspective, this is the right decision.
£35 million is an enormous amount of money for a 19-year-old midfielder with relatively little Premier League experience, and there would inevitably have been an argument that Everton should cash in.
But there is also a point where selling young players simply because a big offer arrives becomes counterproductive.
Armstrong has spent time developing away from Everton with loan spells at Derby County and Preston North End, and had finally reached the point where he was being integrated into Moyes’ senior squad.
He made his Everton debut last season and has now made 22 first-team appearances.
At 19, there is every reason to believe that his value could increase significantly if he continues to develop.
More importantly, Everton need to start demonstrating that their best young players can actually have a future at the club.
Selling Armstrong now would have sent precisely the wrong message.
The fact that fan sentiment appears to have helped convince the ownership to reconsider is therefore likely to be welcomed by a large section of the Everton support.
Forest move now appears off
Nottingham Forest were looking to strengthen their midfield after the departure of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City for a reported £116 million fee earlier in the window.
Armstrong had emerged as one of their targets, with Forest prepared to invest heavily in the teenager.
But unless there is another dramatic twist, Percy’s report suggests that Armstrong will remain an Everton player.
And, after the events of the last few hours, there will undoubtedly be plenty of Everton fans hoping that the club now follows through on that decision and gives the youngster a genuine opportunity to establish himself under Moyes.
For a club looking to build for the future, keeping a highly-rated 19-year-old midfielder rather than selling him at the first opportunity feels like a sensible place to start.
UPDATE: Friedkin Group unanimously decide to keep Armstrong
David Ornstein of The Athletic has now followed up on the story, confirming that Everton’s owners, The Friedkin Group, have decided not to sell Harrison Armstrong.
🚨 Everton owners The Friedkin Group decide not to sell Harrison Armstrong. Nottingham Forest deal for 19yo reached advanced stage but after deliberations #EFC (including chairman Dan Friedkin personally) unanimously opted to keep midfielder @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/TgzMMLKgEC
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 30, 2026
Ornstein reports that the proposed move to Nottingham Forest had reached an advanced stage before the club’s ownership deliberated over whether to proceed.
Crucially, The Friedkin Group unanimously opted to keep the 19-year-old midfielder, with chairman Dan Friedkin personally involved in the discussions.
That provides further confirmation that Everton have made a deliberate decision to retain Armstrong rather than simply seeing the Forest deal collapse.
It also follows John Percy’s report that Everton had accepted a £35 million bid and given Armstrong permission to travel, with Forest receiving written confirmation before the decision was reversed.
The turnaround is therefore particularly significant.
Everton had seemingly been prepared to sanction the sale before the club’s ownership reconsidered the situation – with the enormous backlash from supporters understood to have been an important factor.