Nottingham close in on McAtee

Nottingham Forest are close to signing Manchester City midfielder James McAtee for more than £20m, with personal terms already agreed.

Nottingham in on James McAtee deal with City worth over £20m

Nottingham Forest are reportedly in the final stages of a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder James McAtee for a fee exceeding £20m, and the player has had personal terms fully agreed, according to Fabrizio Romano. The move comes after Forest augmented their squad with several arrivals this summer and after Morgan Gibbs-White extended his contract for three more years. Earlier, Tottenham were said to have triggered a release clause in Gibbs-White’s deal, but Forest lodged a formal complaint to the Premier League to halt the bid, allowing Gibbs-White to stay. City had already added Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders to their midfield, and the possible departure of McAtee would reshape both clubs’ plans.

Romano later stated the agreement is in the final stages and could be made official soon, with personal terms already agreed despite multiple other clubs showing interest. Last season, McAtee started three of his 15 Premier League appearances, but he did score three league goals, three more in the FA Cup, and once in the Champions League, highlighting his potential. If the transfer goes through, Forest would likely offer him more regular minutes, complementing a midfield that already features established players and emerging talents alike.

This move signals Nottingham Forest’s willingness to invest in young talent to boost competitiveness. It fits a broader pattern in the Premier League where mid-range clubs chase high-upside players from elite teams to accelerate progress without purely chasing overnight success. The deal also raises questions about how Forest will balance wage costs with long-term finances as they seek to close the gap to the top teams.

For City, selling McAtee could be part of a broader rotation strategy that prioritizes squad balance and profit from developing players. The transfer window continues to rewrite the value of youth talent, and how McAtee adapts to a new setting will matter for both clubs’ reputations and future plans.

Highlights

Transfer windows keep turning as teams chase balance between risk and reward.