Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis has heaped praises on Ola Aina after the Nigerian defender extended his contract at the club by three years.
The club announced that Aina signed a new three-year contract on Monday, extending his stay at City Ground until 2028.
The 28-year-old full-back’s new long-term deal reflects Forest’s continued faith in his consistency and versatility following an impressive campaign under head coach Nuno Espírito Santo.
“I can’t wait to continue this journey with the club. It’s always felt like a home ever since I joined, and I’m happy to be here,” he said.
“Now my focus is on preparing for the new season well and getting back to hard work.”
According to The Athletic, Forest had activated a one-year extension clause in Aina’s contract in May 2024 after securing their Premier League status, but the club has now moved to secure his services for the longer term.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis said, “Ola has skill, determination and character in abundance. He epitomises the culture and hard work we expect from everyone associated with Forest.
“He has had a big influence since his arrival here, and we look forward to continuing that journey together to help us achieve incredible things.”
Aina joined Forest in July 2023 on a one-year deal following the expiration of his contract with Italian side Torino. He made an immediate impact, featuring regularly at left-back as the club narrowly avoided relegation in his first season.
The versatile defender played primarily on the right flank during the 2024/25 campaign, making 37 appearances across all competitions. His performances contributed to Forest’s seventh-place league finish and an impressive run to the FA Cup semi-finals.
In total, Aina has made 59 appearances for Forest, scoring three goals and providing two assists since his arrival.
His contract extension follows those of teammate Neco Williams and centre-back Murillo, whose deal now runs until 2029. Head coach Nuno Espírito Santo also committed his future to the club in June by signing on till 2028.
Aina’s journey to Forest followed a circuitous route through European football. A product of Chelsea’s academy, he made six first-team appearances for the Blues before loan spells at Hull City and Torino. He joined the Italian side permanently in 2019 and featured 113 times for the Serie A outfit, also spending the 2020-21 season on loan at Fulham.
Though born in London and having represented England at the youth level, Aina opted to play for Nigeria at senior level in 2017. He has earned 40 caps for the Super Eagles.
The full-back’s standout 2024/25 season saw him feature in 35 Premier League matches, starting every game and accumulating over 3,000 minutes of action. He scored twice, provided one assist, and contributed to 11 clean sheets, earning recognition as one of the best full-backs in the league.
His goals in key wins against Brentford and West Ham helped Forest navigate a campaign in which they secured a UEFA Conference League slot despite spending most of the season in a Champions League position.
Credit: punchng.com
