Nottingham Forest sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP on deal running to 2030

Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Ivory Coast international Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP in a deal worth an estimated 40m euros.

The 22-year-old defender has agreed a four-year contract with the Premier League club, which could keep him at the City Ground until 2030. The agreement also includes an option to extend his stay for a further year.

Diomande brings significant experience from his three-and-a-half seasons in Portugal, where he established himself as a key player for Sporting CP. He made 132 appearances for the Lisbon club in all competitions before making the move to England.

His arrival gives Nottingham Forest a new defensive leader as the Tricky Trees look to strengthen their squad. The club officially confirmed the transfer after reaching an agreement for the player, whose value in the Portuguese market had been estimated at 42m euros.

Diomande began his football development at Olympic Sport Abobo in his native Ivory Coast. He started his professional career in Denmark with FC Midtjylland before moving to Portugal to gain first-team experience.

At the beginning of the 2022-23 season, he joined Mafra on loan. His performances quickly attracted attention, and Sporting CP decided to bring the loan spell to an early conclusion before signing him permanently in January 2023.

The centre-back went on to become an important member of the Sporting CP team during his time in Lisbon. He also represented Ivory Coast at international level, adding further experience to his profile ahead of his move to English football.

While playing in Portugal, Diomande was reported to have earned an annual salary of 3,460,000 euros, equivalent to 2,249,000,000 CFA francs.

Nottingham Forest are due to open their English league campaign against Leeds United. According to the betting company 1xBet, the odds for the match are 2.10 for a Nottingham Forest victory, 3.25 for a draw and 3.05 for a Leeds United win.

The transfer marks the end of Diomande’s spell in Portugal and the beginning of a new chapter in the Premier League. After progressing from Olympic Sport Abobo to Denmark, Mafra and then Sporting CP, he will now continue his career with Nottingham Forest under a contract that could run until 2030, with the possibility of an additional season.