Nottingham Forest reach £30m agreement with City for James McAtee | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest have reached an agreement to sign James McAtee from Manchester City in a deal worth up to £30 million.

The package includes an initial £22 million fee, performance-related add-ons, a sell-on clause and a buy-back option for City.

McAtee, 22, has accepted the move and is expected to undergo a medical before the weekend.

Forest beat competition from Premier League and Bundesliga clubs, with Eintracht Frankfurt among those showing interest.

The midfielder is seen as capable of playing both as a No 8 and a No 10, adding creativity and energy to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

He will help fill the gap left by Danilo’s departure to Botafogo and Lewis O’Brien’s move to Wrexham.

McAtee’s City contract was due to expire next summer, and with midfield competition increasing following the arrivals of Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, his opportunities were set to be limited.

The England Under-21 international made 34 appearances for City last season, scoring seven goals, but started only three times in the Premier League.

He scored his first senior goal for City in a 4-0 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava.

A product of City’s academy, McAtee made his senior debut in September 2021 against Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.

He spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Sheffield United, helping them win promotion to the Premier League.

McAtee returned to Bramall Lane on loan for 2023-24, recording five goals and four assists in all competitions.

City’s decision to include a buy-back clause mirrors similar approaches with other academy graduates in recent years.

For Forest, the signing signals further ambition following the record £35 million arrival of Dan Ndoye from Bologna earlier this summer.

The club are also pursuing Rennes forward Arnaud Kalimuendo and recently agreed a £37.5 million fee with Ipswich Town for Omari Hutchinson.

Forest’s summer business has been boosted by the £52 million sale of Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United, easing PSR concerns.

The new arrivals will be part of a squad preparing for both the Premier League and Europa League this season, following the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s dismissal of Crystal Palace’s appeal over European qualification.

Forest open their league campaign at home to Brentford on Sunday, with McAtee’s debut potentially coming soon after.