Super Eagles right-back Ola Aina got his first pre-season minutes as two-time European champions Nottingham Forest suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of PSV Eindhoven in a friendly at the Philips Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Last weekend, the Chelsea academy product put pen-to-paper on a one-year deal to become Forest’s first signing of the summer, with options for the future also agreed in the contract.
Aina didn’t participate in the friendly against Levante shortly after his signing was confirmed and was also not involved in Nottingham Forest’s penultimate friendly against Leeds United.
Manager Steve Cooper gave Aina minutes from the off in today’s friendly against the Dutch Eredivisie club, before making way for Neco Williams at the break.
With the Super Eagles fullback on the pitch, in what was his first game since June 3, Nottingham Forest’s defence was not breached.
In the 66th minute, Johan Bakayoko netted the game-winning goal for PSV Eindhoven with a low shot into the bottom corner.
Nigeria internationals Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis were not named in Forest’s gameday squad.
Nottingham Forest have two more pre-season games scheduled against Rennes and Eintracht Frankfurt, before facing Arsenal in their opening game of the 2023-2024 Premier League.
real more:
Nottingham Forest are in the race to sign Leeds United star Tyler Adams this summer and they’ve now discovered how much he could cost. The Whites were relegated from the Premier League during 2022/23 and now they could lose some stars.
Adams is wanted by several interested parties. Forest are in the race but they are competing with the likes of Liverpool and Aston Villa to snare the 24-year-old from Elland Road.
Signing him won’t be easy for Forest though; with Leeds holding out for a somewhat huge transfer fee. It’s been claimed today by The Athletic that the Whites’ star has a release clause in the region of £20 million in his contract.
Adams enjoyed a sound 2022/23 campaign at Elland Road. He played 27 times for the club and his numbers were among the most impressive in the whole league for a defensive midfielder.
Arguably the reason that Leeds were relegated was down to Adams picking up an injury. The man with 36 caps for the United States missed the final 12 games of the campaign and that was seriously detrimental.
