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“He Made Premier League History at Nottingham Forest—Then Refused to Play and Got His Contract Terminated
Nottingham Forest often dominate the headlines when it comes to transfer news, but one particular deal from the mid-1990s stands out in English football history.
Even after the closure of the January transfer window, Forest remain a hot topic in transfer speculation, with Newcastle United reportedly keen on signing Anthony Elanga. Another player frequently linked with a move away is Brazilian defender Murillo, who recently signed a new contract. If clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, or Real Madrid turn their interest into a formal bid, owner Evangelos Marinakis is expected to demand a world-record fee.
Marinakis has earned a reputation for making shrewd transfer decisions in recent years, with Stuart Pearce even commending the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo, despite initially believing Steve Cooper deserved more time. However, not all of Forest’s transfer dealings have been successful, and one particular signing in 1995 broke a Premier League record for all the wrong reasons.
Andrea Silenzi: The Premier League’s First Italian Player
Espirito Santo’s current Forest squad reflects the increasingly international nature of modern football. However, in the past, foreign players were far less common in the English top flight. Nottingham Forest made history by signing the first Italian player to feature in the Premier League—Andrea Silenzi.
Silenzi arrived at Forest in 1995 with high expectations, having played alongside legends like Diego Maradona and Gianfranco Zola, as well as earning an international call-up for Italy. His signing generated excitement not just because of his nationality but also due to his pedigree.
Unfortunately, that excitement quickly turned into disappointment. In 20 appearances, Silenzi managed only two goals in cup competitions and failed to score in the league, meaning he missed out on becoming the first Italian to score in the Premier League.
A tall, target-man-style striker, similar in profile to Forest’s current forward Chris Wood, Silenzi struggled to fit into manager Frank Clark’s system. This was particularly disappointing given that Clark had led Forest to their highest-ever Premier League finish the previous season.
Frank Clark Admits Andrea Silenzi Was a “Panic Buy”
Silenzi faced the daunting challenge of replacing Stan Collymore, who had scored 25 goals in the previous campaign before securing a move to Liverpool. Looking back, Clark admitted that Silenzi was not the right replacement for Collymore.
Speaking to The Athletic, Clark reflected on the transfer:
*”It was my fault. Silenzi was a panic buy. Because it was a panic buy, I wasn’t able to do my usual thorough checks on him. Stan [Collymore] had left, and we were about to start the season with Kevin Campbell and Bryan Roy both injured.
We had just finished third in the Premier League, and I got a bit ahead of myself—I thought I could rule the world. An Italian agent recommended Silenzi, who, believe it or not, was in the Italy squad at the time. I watched a couple of videos and thought, ‘He’ll do for us.’ It wasn’t our finest moment.”*
Silenzi was eventually loaned out to Venezia in Italy, and reports suggested he refused to return to Nottingham Forest, clearly disheartened by his time at the club.
Clark continued: “Andrea went back to Italy and basically refused to come back. He did a [Pierre] Van Hooijdonk and went on strike. I think Forest ended up paying out his full contract, which turned a bad deal into an even worse one.”
Despite his past mistakes in the transfer market, Clark remains a respected figure at Forest and recently praised Morgan Gibbs-White for his performances. However, his role in the ill-fated Silenzi signing remains a decision he would rather forget.
