He’s been outstanding since his summer arrival at City Ground.
Given that Nottingham Forest has signed 34 new players since their promotion back to the Premier League in 2022, not all of their new acquisitions will be successful.
The team invested a lot of money on players like Emmanuel Dennis and Remo Freuler, but both have struggled to make an impact at the City ground since their arrival.
Both players have subsequently left the club on loan, with the Reds unlikely to recoup any of the money spent on the moves, which cost them north of £30 million.
The owners have also made significant investments in the transfer market, with Morgan Gibbs-White being worth every penny of the £25 million the club paid for him from Wolves in 2022.
However, one of the club’s better financial decisions since promotion was the free transfer of one player, who has thrived above all expectations since joining the Reds.
Ola Aina’s statistics with Nottingham Forest in 2023-24
Forest signed full-back Ola Aina on a free transfer from Serie A club Torino after the Nigerian was released at the conclusion of his contract in June 2023.
The 27-year-old had originally committed to a one-year contract at the City Ground, but his strong performances under Steve Cooper earlier this season have earned him a new term.
He has made 14 Premier League appearances this season, scoring once in a spectacular 2-0 victory over Champions League contenders Aston Villa in November.
Aina has been unable to maintain his great form for Forest, as the Nigerian defender competed in the African Cup of Nations in January and February, sustaining an injury during the final defeat to Ivory Coast.
The former Chelsea prodigy has flourished in his latest opportunity in England’s top division following a period at Fulham, and the 27-year-old appears to be a great investment by the Forest leadership.
Ola Aina’s market worth by 2024
When Aina left the Italian club in June, he had a market worth of just £3 million, with Forest taking a chance on a player who hadn’t played in the Premier League in over three years.
However, the full-back’s market value has skyrocketed after performing for the Reds, with the Nigerian now at €10 million (£8.5 million), more than £15 million more than signing Chris Wood, who, despite scoring ten goals this season, is thought to be worth only €7 million (£6 million).
