Credit: Imago/Nottingham Forest FC

Chris Smith

Mon 18 August 2025 20:00, UK

Nottingham Forest have continued their lavish summer spend with Arnaud Kalimuendo’s arrival from Stade Rennais.

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The 23-year-old striker’s acquisition comes hot off the heels of the signings of Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee – with two of those three slotting nicely into Forest’s most expensive transfers of all time.

That’s some way for the Tricky Trees to prepare for their long-awaited return to European competition, and the hope now is that these gold-plated additions can do the business on the pitch.

Of course, Forest were the first team to sign a £1million player when they bought Trevor Francis from Birmingham City in 1979, so let’s take a look at their most expensive transfers of all time.

As mentioned, Kalimuendo comes straight into the top five following his £26m capture from Rennes (BBC).

Chris Wood is the main man up top for Nuno Espirito Santo, but Kalimuendo will offer a long-term replacement plan at just 23 years old, while he will also provide genuine competition after scoring 18 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions last season.

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Kalimuendo is yet to be capped at senior level by France, but was a regular for them in his youth days, and success in the Premier League should help him make national team progress.

Sangare has struggled with Forest (CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)

Ibrahim Sangare was one of a clutch of arrivals late in the 2023 summer transfer window as Forest looked to consolidate after surviving their first campaign back in the top flight — costing £30m (BBC).

The Ivorian was a long-heralded talent during his PSV days, but has struggled to maintain a starting spot at the City Ground.

Sangare has played just 35 times across all competitions for Forest so far, with his plight not helped by a 20-game absence due to a hamstring problem last season (Transfermarkt).

Forest could yet sell Sangare before the end of the window, proving an expensive flop so far.

Another of Forest’s recent splashes, Dan Ndoye has plenty of top-level pedigree — especially after hitting nine goals and six assists last season to help Bologna finish ninth in Serie A and win the Coppa Italia.

It was Ndoye who scored the defining goal in the final against AC Milan, and he’s already off the mark for his new club, netting the second of Forest’s three strikes in a 3-1 win over Brentford at the weekend.

It’s early days, but this looks like it could be £34m well spent (Sky Sports).

There was definitely some PSR shenanigans going on when Nottingham Forest and Newcastle exchanged Elliot Anderson and Odysseas Vlachodimos — with the Tricky Trees only paying £15m once the latter’s fee was applied.

Elliot Anderson’s Nottingham Forest statsAppearances43Goals2Assists7Elliot Anderson’s Nottingham Forest career stats

But the real fee was £35m (Sky Sports), and whether he felt worth it at the time or the result of an agreement between clubs to scratch each other’s back, he’s repaid every penny since with a string of excellent performances.

Anderson only has two goals and seven assists to his name so far, but the midfielder is far more valued for his passing range and work rate — proving indispensable for Espirito Santo.

Omari Hutchinson was one of the few bright sparks in a poor one-season return to the Premier League for Ipswich last year, hitting three goals and two assists, while sitting second for chances created (31) and third for successful dribbles per 90 (1.8).

Hutchinson — who was capped twice in friendlies by Jamaica in 2023 — also grabbed a goal and an assist in England’s U21 Euros triumph over the summer and is certainly a player on the up.

A club-record £37.5m fee (BBC) will be viewed as a risk given he’s still relatively unproven at the highest level, but there’s a lot to like about former Arsenal and Chelsea youngster Hutchinson.

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