Nottingham Forest have officially secured the services of Ivory Coast center-back Ousmane Diomande from Sporting, with the transfer fee estimated at £34m.
The 22-year-old defender has put pen to paper on a four-year contract at the City Ground, with the club retaining an option to extend the deal by a further twelve months.
Diomande expressed his excitement about the move and his belief that Forest can make a significant impact in the coming season.
Diomande excited to begin Forest chapter
“I am thrilled to be part of this great institution. The club’s history is rich, and that motivates me to give everything,” Diomande stated.
“I am confident that we can accomplish great things this year. I cannot wait to work with the squad and the coaching staff. I will give my all on the pitch.”
Despite his youth, the defender brings a wealth of experience, having earned 15 caps for Ivory Coast and being named in the national team roster for the 2026 World Cup.
Diomande suited to Glasner’s tactical setup
Forest manager Oliver Glasner favors a 3-5-2 system, which could see Diomande feature in a defensive trio alongside Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo.
Glasner has tracked the Ivory Coast international for a long time and had previously tried to bring him in during his tenure at Crystal Palace.
Forest’s chief football officer, George Syrianos, is confident that Diomande’s prior achievements will ease his adaptation to the club.
“He possesses remarkable experience for someone his age,” Syrianos remarked. “Having been a key figure in championship-winning sides and competing deep into the Champions League puts him in an excellent position to thrive at Forest.”
Diomande’s path to Nottingham
Diomande’s career started at Olympic Sport Abobo in his homeland before a move to Denmark, where he developed at FC Midtjylland.
He transferred to Sporting in January 2023 and amassed 132 first-team appearances for the Lisbon outfit. During his spell, he was instrumental in securing back-to-back Portuguese league titles in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The defender also played a part in Sporting’s run to the Champions League quarter-finals last season, where they fell to Arsenal.
Forest bolster squad with Ivory Coast star
Diomande made a single appearance for Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup, featuring in their group-stage win over Curacao.
Syrianos hailed the new arrival as “a strong, authoritative defender” who brings a winning mindset to the squad.
His signing follows the free-transfer addition of Austrian midfielder Xaver Schlager in July, further strengthening the roster under Glasner’s leadership.