Nottingham Forest complete signing of Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP

Nottingham Forest have officially completed the signing of Ivory Coast international defender Ousmane Diomande from Portuguese giants Sporting CP.

The 22-year-old centre-back has put pen to paper on a four-year contract with the Premier League club, with Forest also holding an option to extend the agreement for an additional 12 months.

Diomande becomes the latest addition to Forest’s defensive ranks as the club continues to strengthen its squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Forest head coach Oliver Glasner played a significant role in the transfer, having previously identified Diomande as a player he wanted to sign during his spell in charge of Crystal Palace.

The Austrian manager is understood to have remained an admirer of the Ivorian defender and was keen to reunite with him at the City Ground.

Following the completion of the move, Diomande expressed his delight at joining Forest and spoke confidently about the club’s ambitions for the upcoming season.

“I am very happy to be here. It is a historic club, and it motivates me to join such a club,” said Diomande.

“I believe we can achieve very good things this season and I am looking forward to meeting the players and head coach. I will give my best.”

Diomande arrives in England after four seasons with Sporting CP, where he developed into one of the most highly regarded young central defenders in Portuguese football.

Since joining the Lisbon-based club, he has made 132 appearances across competitions, scoring seven goals and playing an important role in Sporting’s domestic success.

The defender was part of the Sporting side that won the Primeira Liga title twice, further enhancing his reputation before securing his move to the Premier League.

His physical strength, pace, composure in possession and ability to defend one-on-one situations have made him an attractive option for Forest as they prepare for another demanding campaign.

At international level, Diomande has established himself as an important member of the Ivory Coast national team. He has earned 15 senior caps for the Elephants and is regarded as one of the country’s leading young defensive talents.

His move to Nottingham Forest represents another major step in his career, with the 22-year-old now set to test himself regularly in the Premier League and compete for a place in Glasner’s starting XI.

Forest will hope Diomande’s arrival can add greater strength and depth to their defence while also providing the club with a long-term option at centre-back.