Nottingham Forest are set to sign Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande in a deal worth €40million (£34.3m, $46.2m), with the 22-year-old expected to fly later on Saturday for a medical ahead of a proposed five-year contract.
The move would give Forest one of the more expensive additions of their summer and add a centre-back who has already built a strong resume in Portugal. Diomande has made 132 appearances for Sporting since joining from Midtjylland in January 2023, and he has also drawn interest from across Europe this summer.
What the move means for Forest
Forest have been active in reshaping the squad around Oliver Glasner, and Diomande would be another major piece of that process. The club has already completed the signing of Xaver Schlager on a free transfer from RB Leipzig, while Sangare and Murillo signed new contracts this summer until 2029 and 2030 respectively.
That gives Forest a clearer sense of continuity in key areas, but the addition of Diomande would also raise the level of competition in defence. With Murillo already secured on a long-term deal, Forest would be adding another young, high-ceiling centre-back to a group being built for the next several seasons.
Why Diomande stands out
Diomande’s background helps explain why he has been such an attractive target. He is already a proven starter at Sporting and represented Ivory Coast at the World Cup this summer, adding international experience to his club track record. For Forest, that mix of age, experience and room to develop makes the move a notable one.
The Athletic reported on July 22 that Forest were in advanced talks with Sporting over Diomande, and the agreement now appears close to completion. If the medical goes ahead as expected, Forest will be adding a defender who has already shown he can handle regular football at a major European club and still has plenty of room to improve.
For Sporting, it looks like the end of another successful chapter with a player they signed only in January 2023. For Forest, it could be one of the clearest signs yet of how aggressively they want to strengthen under Glasner.
