Nottingham Forest have signed Swiss winger Dan Ndoye from Bologna for a club-record €40m (£34.6m) plus €5m in add-ons. The 24-year-old penned a five-year deal with an option for an extra year, marking a major coup as Forest prepare for their first European campaign in decades.
Replacing Elanga
Ndoye’s arrival fills the void left by Anthony Elanga, who joined Newcastle for £55m, and Ramon Sosa, sold to Palmeiras for £10m. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo targeted Ndoye to bolster the attack, with owner Evangelos Marinakis outbidding Napoli to secure the winger’s signature after his medical on July 29, 2025.
Who is Dan Ndoye?
Born in Nyon, Switzerland, Ndoye, 24, rose through Lausanne-Sport and OGC Nice before shining at Bologna. In 2024-25, he scored nine goals and provided six assists in 41 games, including the winner in Bologna’s Coppa Italia final. His pace, versatility, and direct style suit Nuno’s counter-attacking system.
When I spoke to @forestfocuspod about Dan Ndoye I mentioned an amazing goal he scored v Napoli - for Forest fans who haven’t seen it, this is it (scored with his ‘weaker’ foot) #NFFC pic.twitter.com/lhfBo2N6DO
— Adam Summerton (@adamsummerton) July 30, 2025
Outpacing Napoli
Forest fended off Napoli’s €9m loan-plus-€26m bid, with Bologna favoring Forest’s €45m package. Ndoye’s preference for the Premier League sealed the deal, despite Napoli’s Champions League offer, signaling Forest’s growing ambition under Marinakis.
Ndoye’s Impact
Ndoye’s 0.50 goals and assists per 90 minutes in Serie A compares well to Elanga’s 0.61 in the Premier League. His speed and counter-attacking threat, showcased at Euro 2024, make him ideal for Forest’s style. He joins new signings Igor Jesus, Jair Cunha, and Morgan Gibbs-White as Forest eye further additions like Adama Traoré.
