Nottingham Forest hit the jackpot with one particular player in £1.2m joint deal: View | OneFootball

Midfielder Chris Cohen became a modern day Nottingham Forest legend following 2007 Yeovil Town double deal.

Nottingham Forest signed a young Chris Cohen as part of a £1.2m double deal with Yeovil Town that also included bringing Welshman Arron Davies to the City Ground. But while the latter's stay in the Midlands was largely unmemorable, the former's 11 years with the club saw him become a modern-day legend at the club.

Usually deployed as an all-action central midfielder, Cohen was also able to operate on the left-hand side when required,

Starting his career in London with West Ham United, with whom he came through the youth academy to make a few sporadic first-team appearances, Cohen would join League One Yeovil, initially on-loan, in November 2005.

Impressing for a Glovers side that was in the midst of the most successful era in the club's history, Cohen quickly made himself a mainstay in the engine room at Huish Park, extending his loan deal until the end of the season after being almost an ever-present in the team since his arrival, ultimately helping them to consolidate their position in the third-tier.

As Russell Slade took over as Yeovil manager in the summer of 2006, he moved to bring Cohen in on a permanent basis, the physically strong and technically sufficient youngster penning a two-year deal ahead of the following campaign.

It was to be a memorable season for the Glovers, as they kept up with the divisional pace-setters, playing an effective and entertaining brand of football that would see them make the play-offs, with a shot at a place in the Championship; and Cohen and diminutive attacking midfielder Arron Davies were at the heart of things.

Prevailing in one of the most memorable play-off semi-finals in history, Yeovil overturned a 2-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest with an incredible 5-2 win in the return leg at the City Ground to set up a Wembley final with Blackpool.

It wasn't to be for Slade's men, however, as goals from Robbie Williams and Keigan Parker either side of half-time earned the Tangerines a place in the second-tier at Cohen and co's expense.

The midfielder and his colleague, Davies, had stood out as top players in an impressive Yeovil side, and, having beaten them in dramatic fashion a couple of months earlier, the pair made a joint move to Nottingham Forest for a combined fee believed to be in the region of £1.2m.

Cohen excels at Forest, while Davies struggles for consistency

After overcoming early injury setbacks, Cohen quickly became a vital part of a successful Forest side, one that clinched automatic promotion to the Championship in the midfielder's first season with the club.

Versatile, consistent, and displaying a fantastic attitude, Cohen was instrumental in everything his side did over the next decade.

While injuries frustrated him at times, Cohen became a real leader in the dressing room. A player whose wholehearted, dynamic performances in the City Ground engine room saw him highly appreciated by managers, teammates and supporters alike.

Often coming up with important contributions at vital times, Cohen was a reliable, settling figure over 11 years of ups and downs for the club, who were striving to return to previous heights.

While Davies had departed in 2010, joining Brighton & Hove Albion permanently following an earlier loan spell, Cohen would remain with the Reds until his retirement in 2018.

The Forest icon, who'd regularly put his body on the line for the good of his side, made 305 appearances in total for the club, scoring 18 goals and picking up numerous Player of the Year Awards in the process.

Nottingham.

Midfielder proved £1.2m fee to be a bargain

While the £1.2m fee Forest paid was for both Cohen and Davies, the latter made the agreement an absolute steal single-handedly.

For what they paid, the club certainly received value-for-money in return. They got the perfect professional. A leader who captained his side with quality, integrity and desire.

In the modern era, where players move around regularly, looking for the best financial package in the short-term, it's rare to find a player that stays at one club for so long. One who feels that connection and attachment with the fan base, and one that makes over 300 appearances with such distinction.