EXCLUSIVE; Nottingham Forest have won the race to sign £30m striker despite strong interest from Arsenal
Nottingham Forest Close to Sealing Deal for Arsenal-Linked Striker Igor Jesus
TBR Football can exclusively reveal that Nottingham Forest are nearing an agreement to sign a striker who had previously attracted serious interest from Arsenal.
The Gunners have been actively pursuing a new No.9 since the January transfer window, following a series of injuries that left Mikel Arteta’s side short-handed in attack.
Despite evaluating and making contact with multiple forward targets, Arsenal ultimately failed to secure any reinforcements—an absence that arguably hurt their Premier League title ambitions.
Among the most notable players on their radar was Brazilian forward Igor Jesus, a talent Arsenal had direct contact with. However, TBR Football now understands that Jesus is instead on the verge of joining Nottingham Forest.
Forest Beating Top Clubs to £30M Signing of Brazilian Forward
According to chief correspondent Graeme Bailey, Forest are now leading the race to land the highly rated striker from Botafogo, with a deal said to be nearing completion.
The £30 million-rated forward has previously drawn attention from Arsenal, Newcastle, Brentford, Everton, Leeds United, and West Ham.
However, Forest have moved decisively, opening formal negotiations with Botafogo and taking significant steps toward finalizing the transfer.
In addition to Jesus, Forest are also in discussions with Botafogo for attacking left-back Cuiabano—a player targeted by Brighton—and central defender Jair Cunha.
Sources have told TBR Football that the total value of the potential triple signing could exceed £30 million if all terms are finalized.
The East Midlands club is leveraging its growing Brazilian connections, with the squad already featuring the likes of Murillo, Danilo, Morato, and Carlos Miguel.
Forest Set for European Return After Historic Season
Nottingham Forest are preparing for European football next season after a strong 2024/25 Premier League campaign—arguably their best in decades.
Following two seasons spent battling relegation, Forest’s resurgence saw them push for a top-four spot, reminiscent of their third-place finish in the 1994/95 season.
Despite a late dip in form that saw them finish seventh, missing out on the top five, it was still a remarkable achievement.
Now set to compete in the UEFA Conference League, Forest are focused on strengthening their squad to ensure they’re ready for the demands of domestic and European competition alike.
The signing of Igor Jesus—and potentially two more Brazilians—would mark a significant step forward in their summer recruitment.
