Aina willing to sign new Forest contract

Nigeria defender Ola Aina is reportedly willing to renew his contract with Nottingham Forest despite interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City, NewsNGR Sports Extra reports.

According to TEAMtalk, Forest have been given a boost in their quest to keep Aina as he is willing to extend his stay at the City Ground.

The EPL side have been in advanced discussions to extend Aina’s contract, whose current deal expires at the end of the current season. He joined them from Italian side Torino in the summer of 2023 for just €3.50m.

The 28-year-old is making a huge statement with his performance in the English Premier League this season, contributing quantitatively and qualitatively to the ambitions of Nuno Espirito Santos men, who are chasing a UEFA Champions League qualification next season.

In the process, the Chelsea academy product has scored two goals and given one assist in 29 Premier League games this campaign.

Aside from that, he has established himself as a key figure in Nuno’s team as he is ranked the best ball-winner in defensive areas across Europe’s top five leagues, according to statistics from WhoScored.

No player in the Premier League has also made more clearances off the line than Aina in the EPL this season with the Nigerian topping the chart with three crucial moments just as Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, Aston Villa’s Eric Konsa and Iliman Ndiaye of Everton.

In total, Aina’s three goal-line clearances have essentially earned Forest five points: wins rather than draws with Ipswich and Southampton, and a draw rather than a defeat against Liverpool. Five points from goal-line clearances are more than any other player in the league and they would have been out of the top-four spot if not for the Nigerian.

The full-back has been a standout performer for Forest this season, playing over 2,500 minutes in all competitions and delivering his most impressive campaign yet at the top level.

Thanks to his improved performance, Aina’s market value is currently at €20m with Chelsea among the suitors willing to pay for the player they sold for €10m to Torino in 2019.

At Torino, he also spent some time on loan at Fulham before the Serie A side secured a permanent deal for him with Forest in 2023.