Ousmane Diomande Joins Nottingham Forest for £34.3m

Nottingham Forest has officially signed defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting for a substantial fee of approximately £34.3m (€40m). The 22-year-old centre-back is set to spend the next four years with the club after weeks of negotiations.

Diomande’s signing comes as Forest’s head coach Oliver Glasner has shown keen interest in the player, having previously attempted to bring him on board during his tenure at Crystal Palace. The move signals Forest’s commitment to strengthening their defensive lineup ahead of the new season.

Having spent the last four seasons at Sporting, Diomande made a significant impact, playing 132 matches, scoring seven goals, and contributing to the team’s success by winning the Primeira Liga twice. Notably, he played an instrumental role in helping Sporting reach the knockout stages of the Champions League and secured a domestic double during the 2024/25 season.

Internationally, Diomande has been a key figure for the Ivory Coast national team, earning 15 caps and achieving success in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where the team clinched the title after an eight-year wait. He has also made an appearance at this summer’s World Cup.

Expressing his excitement about joining Nottingham Forest, Diomande stated, “I am very happy to be here. It is a historic club, and it motivates me to join such a club. I believe we can achieve very good things this season and I am looking forward to meeting the players and head coach.” He emphasized his dedication, saying, “I will give my best and all I can to help the team. I cannot wait to meet the supporters at the City Ground, and together we can have a good season.”

Additionally, Chief Football Officer George Syrianos commented on Diomande’s addition, saying, “We have been very clear on the profile of player we want to add to the squad, so we are excited to welcome Ousmane to the club. He has fantastic experience for a defender of his age. Playing a crucial role in title-winning teams and going into the latter stages of the Champions League puts him in a great position to integrate well here at Forest.”

With Diomande now on board, Nottingham Forest appears to be making strategic moves to build a competitive squad for the upcoming season.