Jota Silva wanted in Saudi as three Nottingham Forest players could still leave
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Credit: Imago, Hasan Karim - Breaking Media
Oliver Walton
Wed 3 September 2025 12:52, UK
Nottingham Forest forward Jota Silva could be set to leave the club for the Saudi Pro League soon while two of his teammates may also depart with overseas transfer windows still open for business.
Jota Silva was not a mainstay in Nottingham Forest‘s starting eleven last term, but he still grabbed four goals and three assists in 37 appearances after a £6million [The Athletic] move from Vitoria Guimaraes last summer.
The Portuguese winger certainly played his part in their success as they finished seventh in the Premier League, but his future has been plunged into uncertainty this summer with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side signing the likes of Dan Ndoye, Dilane Bakwa and Omari Hutchinson.
O Jogo linked him with a move to Sporting CP earlier in the transfer window, while former scout Mick Brown revealed to Football Insider on 26 August that Leeds were targeting Silva as a potential late addition to their forward ranks.
Sporting and Paris FC were each linked with moves for Silva on deadline day (1 September), but a move to the former fell through at the eleventh hour as due to an administration error [Record], and he is potentially set to leave the City Ground for a different continent.
Credit: Imago
The Telegraph’s John Percy (3 September) has reported via X that Silva is a target for Saudi Pro League club Neom SC, with an initial loan deal with a permanent option-to-buy him to be discussed between the two clubs.
He also states that Forest defender Morato could be targeted by Saudi clubs, with their window open until 23 September, while striker Taiwo Awoniyi has interest from abroad and could also leave soon.
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Meanwhile Cuiabano has already been loaned back to Botafogo just days after he arrived at the City Ground from Brazil.
Football Insider verdict
There is certainly a case to be made that Forest need all the continuity and consistency they can get from last season to the next, particularly in attack, but that looks to have gone out of the window after a whole host of new signings to appease Nuno amid his stand-off with transfer chief Edu Gaspar.
Silva did not set the league alight in his debut season in the East Midlands, and while he was always a handy, like-for-like option to bring on in tight games, his place on the bench looks to have been taken by the likes of Hutchinson and James McAtee.
AppearancesStartsGoalsAssists37843Jota Silva’s 24/25 Forest stats
Awoniyi has been a decent servant to the club since his 2022 move from Union Berlin, with 19 goals in 84 appearances, but he has also seen fierce competition for places arrive in the form of Igor Jesus and Arnaud Kalimuendo, and so should be let go with both ahead of him in the pecking order.
Letting Brazilian centre-back Morato leave, however, would arguably be pretty short-sighted, as he represents their third best option at the heart of Nuno’s defence behind Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic.
Forest have a Europa League campaign to contend with alongside the Premier League this season, so they should retain the 24-year-old for now, especially considering they are now unable to get a replacement in.