Nottingham Forest sign Ivorian centre-back Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP for €40 million

Nottingham Forest signed 22-year-old Ivorian centre-back Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP for €40 million, confirming the deal on Tuesday ahead of the start of the English Premier League 2026-27 season. The transfer is Forest’s third piece of summer business.

Born in Abidjan, Diomande began his football education at Olympic Sport Abobo at age 10 and was later scouted by Danish club FC Midtjylland, joining their youth setup in 2020. He made a breakthrough in 2022 with a season-long loan to Portuguese side Mafra, where he made 13 league appearances in a six-month spell. Sporting CP persuaded Midtjylland to terminate that loan and completed a transfer worth €7.5 million up front that can rise to €14.50 million through add-ons; Diomande signed a four-year contract that included an €80 million release clause.

Diomande played three seasons in Portugal’s top flight for Sporting CP, making 87 league appearances for the Primeira Liga club. The move to Nottingham Forest was described in coverage as a highlight of his young career and represents a step to a more competitive league.

On the international stage, Diomande received a call-up to the Ivory Coast squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and made his senior debut in September 2023 against Lesotho. He has earned 15 international caps and featured at the FIFA World Cup 2026, playing 90 minutes against Curacao.

Forest have made Diomande their third signing of the window after bringing in Austrian midfielder Xaver Schlager on a free transfer and signing Gustavo Sa from Famalicao, who was immediately loaned to Olympiacos. The club moved to reinforce its defence after releasing Willy Boly and following the exit of David Carmo to Olympiacos.

Nottingham Forest’s social media announcement included the line: "A wall in defence. A leader on the pitch.Ousmane Diomande is a Red. 🔴 pic.twitter.com/CCoj7qggN4"

The signing adds a defender who has played in Denmark and Portugal to Forest’s squad ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League campaign, with the club having confirmed the transfer on Tuesday as they finalise summer business.