Mike McGrath from the Telegraph has reported that Jacob Ramsey is the No 1 target for Nottingham Forest in this window. Ramsey has been a key squad player for Villa last season appearing 45 times in all competitions, including 10 in the Champions League.
🌲Nottingham Forest have made Jacob Ramsey a primary summer target . The Aston Villa forward can play across frontline and is long-admired at City Ground. More @TeleFootball including other clubs looking at 24yo
— Mike McGrath (@mcgrathmike) July 15, 2025
🔴⚪️ #NFFC #AVFC https://t.co/nu980eKLLn
The attacking-midfielder, who predominantly played on the left wing last season, was recently name-checked by England manager Thomas Tuchel as a player who was close to making his first squad.
The Deal
Ramsey has had interest from other Premier League clubs, including Everton and West Ham. Whilst Villa do not need to sell players to comply with the profit and sustainability rules, as they sold their women's team before the 30th June cut-off, it has been rumoured that Villa are willing to let Ramsey go for the right price.
Upwards of £30 million is the potential fee, but for any offer to be accepted by Villa, Unai Emery would want a replacement lined up before sanctioning a deal. Selling Ramsey would be pure-profit for Aston Villa, as he is an academy graduate, however since Villa are also in the Europa League this season, and the rules stating you must have at least 4 players "Club-trained", Ramsey would be one of those four players for Villa. This perhaps makes them slightly reluctant for him to leave unless they promote more players from their academy.
Ramsey's Career
Still only 24-years-old, Ramsey has made 167 appearances for Aston Villa, scoring 17 goals and 17 assists. He was also part of England's U-21 squad that won the European Championship in July 2023. The 2022/23 Premier League season was his best, where he scored 6 goals and 7 assists in 35 Premier League appearances and in the 2021/22 season he was named both Villa's Players' Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season.
Forest's Attacking Options
With the departure of Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for £55 million and Morgan Gibbs-White likely to follow him out the door to Tottenham - although the deal is currently delayed due to legal issues - Ramsey has similar traits to both players that would add a lot of value to Forest's squad as they now have the Europa League to contend with alongside the Premier League.
The recent signing of Brazilian striker Igor Jesus from Botafogo, will also offer something different upfront, with Forest supporters hoping he can match the form of Chris Wood last season, where he scored 20 goals in 36 appearances in the Premier League.
Should the Gibbs-White move go through, getting a player like Jacob Ramsey would be essential for Forest to continue their push up the table.
