Nottingham Forest’s most expensive signings of all time

Nottingham Forest have splashed the cash in recent years following their return to the Premier League, with owner Evangelos Marinakis getting the chequebook out on a regular basis.

But who tops the charts as the most expensive addition at the City Ground? Here’s Nottingham Forest’s 20 biggest signings in their history.

Weekly wages: Nottingham Forest FC 2025/26 highest-paid players

Football FanCast take a look at Nottingham Forest’s top ten biggest earners for the 2024/25 season.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 24, 2025

Here's a detailed look at Nottingham Forest's 10 biggest signings…

10

Neco Williams

£17m from Liverpool

Starting the countdown is attacking full-back Neco Williams, who arrived following Nottingham Forest’s promotion in 2022.

He left Liverpool after coming through the Reds’ academy and signed a new four-year contract at the City Ground in 2025.

9

Taiwo Awoniyi

£17.5m from Union Berlin

Taiwo Awoniyi was the player tasked with firing Nottingham Forest to safety following their return to the Premier League, and the Nigerian just done that to justify his £17.5m transfer from Union Berlin.

After that, though, Awoniyi fell down the pecking order at the City Ground, with Chris Wood becoming first choice.

8

Morgan Gibbs-White

£25m from Wolves

Morgan Gibbs-White has been Nottingham Forest’s standout performer following their return to the Premier League, and he nearly left in 2025 for Tottenham Hotspur.

Instead, the England international signed a new contract at the City Ground, and his initial £25m move from Wolves has proven to be a bargain.

7

Arnaud Kalimuendo

£26m from Rennes

Arnaud Kalimuendo scored 18 goals in 34 appearances for Rennes in 2024/25, something which caught the eye of Nottingham Forest in their search for another striker.

The Reds paid £26m to secure the Frenchman’s services, a fee which could be spread out over his five-year contract.

6

James McAtee

£30m from Man City

Another player to arrive in 2025 was James McAtee, with Nottingham Forest winning the race to sign the attacking midfielder from Manchester City.

McAtee was a wanted man across Europe and ended up costing Forest £30m, signing a five-year deal on £40,000-a-week.

5

Ibrahim Sangare

£30m from PSV

Ibrahim Sangare became Nottingham Forest’s record signing on deadline day in 2023, with those at the City Ground paying £30m to Dutch giants PSV.

Things haven’t exactly go to plan for Sangare, though, who has had his injury issues in the Midlands.

4

Dilane Bakwa

£30.5m from Strasbourg

A deadline day addition in September 2025 was winger Dilane Bakwa, who put pen to paper on a City Ground contract just before the window closed in a deal worth just over £30m.

After impressing for Strasbourg, Bakwa, a left-footed right-winger, signed a contract until 2030.

3

Dan Ndoye

£34m from Bologna

After qualifying for the Europa League, Dan Ndoye was Nottingham Forest’s first marquee signing in the summer of 2025, costing £34m from Serie A side Bologna.

A Switzerland international, Ndoye can play on either wing and is under contract until 2030.

2

Elliot Anderson

£35m from Newcastle

Elliot Anderson’s transfer from Newcastle went down as a £35m fee, and even if it was that, it has proven to be a great piece of business.

However, Forest and the Magpies made a deal at the same time which saw Odysseas Vlachodimos move to St James’ Park for £20m, so really, Anderson set them back just £15m.

1

Omari Hutchinson

£37.5m from Ipswich

Top of the charts as Nottingham Forest’s record signing is Omari Hutchinson, who arrived from Ipswich Town in 2025 at a cost of £37.5m.

The winger was a shining light at Portman Road in their only season back in the Premier League, which resulted in Forest swooping for the England U21 international.