Forest in talks for Everton midfielder Armstrong in £40m deal
Nottingham Forest are negotiating a transfer for Everton's 19-year-old midfielder Harrison Armstrong, with a fee around £40 million plus a sell-on clause. Armstrong has made 22 first-team appearances for Everton and previously had loan spells at Derby County and Preston North End. Forest are seeking to bolster their central midfield after Elliot Anderson's £116m move to Manchester City.
The proposed transfer reflects Forest's aggressive recruitment strategy following the record-breaking departure of Elliot Anderson. With Oliver Glasner's side seeking depth in central areas, the 19-year-old would join a revamped midfield alongside free-agent arrival Xaver Schlager, who has started the campaign's opening fixtures.
Armstrong's development path has included productive Championship loans at Derby County and Preston North End before earning regular first-team involvement under David Moyes. Everton, meanwhile, have already reshaped their own engine room this window, bringing in Hayden Hackney, Christian Norgaard, and making Merlin Rohl's loan permanent, suggesting they may be prepared to sanction the sale.
This deal could signal a shifting financial landscape in English football, where mid-table clubs now compete aggressively for young talent after major sales. Forest's willingness to invest heavily in a teenager may influence how other clubs value academy products, potentially accelerating transfer inflation. For supporters, it represents both excitement over ambitious recruitment and concern about player development timelines, while Everton's decision could shape their squad depth and financial flexibility in coming seasons.