Ola Aina, who originally graduated from Chelsea's youth academy, spent nearly five years with Torino after moving there on loan from Chelsea in 2018. During his time in Italy, he showcased his talent and versatility as a right-back, earning 17 caps for the Nigerian national team.
The London-born player also had a stint in the Premier League during the 2020-21 season when he went on loan to Fulham. Now, with the opportunity to return to the English top-flight with Nottingham Forest, Aina expressed his excitement about the move.
"I'm very excited to be here and I can't wait to get started. I wanted to be back on English soil again, and Forest is a club which has an exciting project and team," Aina said. "The manager as well, what he wants from the team is something which I want to buy into. He's told me it's a family club, he's told me we have a great bunch of players and he's told me I'll enjoy it here."
Aina's signing marks the first acquisition by Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper since the end of last season. Cooper expressed his satisfaction with the addition, praising Aina's versatility and experience in top European leagues.
"He's a versatile player who has good experience of the Premier League and Serie A," Cooper said. "He's a really good player, but a good athlete as well. He'll definitely make the team stronger."
Ola Aina's stint with Torino was fruitful, helping the club secure a commendable 10th-place finish in Serie A last season.
With his return to the Premier League and Nottingham Forest's ambitious project, the Nigerian defender is eager to contribute to the team's success and make a positive impact in the upcoming season.
The Forest fans eagerly await the debut of their new signing, hoping he can bolster their defence and play a key role in their campaign.