On July 22, 2023, Ola Aina walked through the doors at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest’s first signing of the summer — a quiet arrival, but one full of promise.
Fast forward two years, and the Super Eagles fullback has grown into a dependable figure in Forest’s backline, blending grit, versatility, and international pedigree into a role that has become invaluable.
Signed on a free transfer after a spell in Italy with Torino, Aina was seen by many as a depth option. But the Nigerian had other plans. From his Premier League return to his impact in big games, and a new contract sealing his importance to the team, Aina’s Forest journey has been one of consistency, character, and rising influence.
Aina’s Premier League return
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Ola Aina’s move to Nottingham Forest stemmed from a strong desire to return to Premier League football, having previously featured for both Fulham and Chelsea. The Nigerian international came through Chelsea’s famed Cobham academy and spent the 2020–21 season on loan at Fulham, gaining valuable top-flight experience.
He reaffirmed this ambition to return to England when speaking after his move to Forest, stating: “I wanted to be back on English soil again and Forest is a club which has an exciting project and team.”
Nottingham Forest’s Chief Football Officer, Ross Wilson, also acknowledged Aina’s eagerness to return to England: “In the discussions that Steve and I have had with him we can see how excited he is to join Forest and return to the Premier League after enjoying his time outside of England in Serie A.”
Debut season at Nottingham Forest
Aina faced a challenging introduction to life at Nottingham Forest, with his first three Premier League starts coming against top-tier opposition in Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
Forest lost all three encounters, and Aina picked up a yellow card in each match. Despite the rough start, his potential was evident. It was clear that with time and consistency, he would grow into his role and find his rhythm in the team.
By November 2023, Aina began to find his stride. He scored his first goal for the club in a convincing 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at the City Ground, marking a turning point in his early-season form.
Just a week later, he added an assist in Forest’s clash with West Ham, showing growing confidence not just in defense, but also in attack. But despite his contribution, Forest fell 3-2 to the Hammers after a late winner from Tomáš Souček.
Towards the end of the season, Aina became a key figure in Forest’s survival push, starting eight consecutive Premier League matches. His consistency and defensive discipline proved crucial as Nottingham Forest successfully avoided relegation — an impressive feat considering the club had been docked four points during the campaign.
At the end of the season, Nottingham Forest confirmed they had activated a one-year contract extension for Ola Aina — an indication of the trust and value the club placed in the Nigerian defender after a solid debut campaign.
Aina’s impact in Nottingham Forest’s return to Europe
The 2024-25 season marked a remarkable campaign for Aina and Nottingham Forest. Under the guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo who had helped the team avoid relegation, Forest qualified for the UEFA conference league, marking their return to Europe for the first time in 29 years.
Aina’s first Premier League goal of the 2024–25 season came in a commanding 3–0 victory over West Ham on 2 November 2024 — a result that briefly lifted Forest to third in the table. Just a month later, he found the net again, this time helping Forest hand Brentford their first home defeat of the season, further underlining his growing influence at both ends of the pitch.
Aina’s impressive form drew attention from top clubs, with reports linking him to Manchester City as a potential successor to Kyle Walker in January. Despite the speculation, he remained committed to Forest and played a pivotal role in their 1–0 victory over the Cityzens in March — a result that kept Forest firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
That same month, Aina was recognised for winning possession in the defensive third at least 13 more times than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues (105) according to WhoScored.
At the end of March, Nottingham Forest edged past Brighton on penalties to secure a place in the FA Cup semifinal, continuing their fairytale run.
However, their momentum was soon disrupted in April as the squad was hit by a wave of injuries. Key players, including Ola Aina and top scorer Chris Wood, were sidelined — dealing a major blow to Forest’s push on both domestic and European fronts.
The injuries coincided with a dip in form for Nottingham Forest as the team suffered back-to-back league defeats to Aston Villa and Everton, and their FA Cup journey ended at the semifinal stage with a loss to Manchester City.
Although Aina returned to action in May, Forest’s struggles in the league persisted as they lost to Brentford and were held to draws by Crystal Palace and Leicester City.
Their hopes of a historic Champions League qualification were dashed on the final day of the Premier League season, as a loss to Chelsea saw the Blues clinch fourth place. However, Forest’s qualification for the UEFA Conference League was a significant achievement — marking a dramatic turnaround for a side that had fought to avoid relegation just a year earlier.
At the end of a standout campaign, Ola Aina’s contributions didn’t go unnoticed. He earned nominations for the EA FC Premier League Team of the Season and the Premier League Fans’ Team of the Season, reflecting his impact across the league.
At club level, Aina was also shortlisted for Nottingham Forest’s Swizzels Sweetest Strike of the Season, capping off a year in which he firmly established himself as one of the team’s most influential players.
In July, Nottingham Forest confirmed that Ola Aina had signed a new three-year contract, committing his future to the club until 2028. The deal was a strong show of faith from the club and a reward for Aina’s consistent performances, leadership, and growing importance within the squad.
Two years into his Forest journey, Ola Aina has proven his value time and again. Now set to play in Europe next season, his story with the Reds enters an exciting new chapter.
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