Oleksandr Zinchenko in action wearing Nottingham Forest's red kit after his transfer to the club in September 2025. Photo credit: beIN SPORTS/Getty Images.
Credit: beIN SPORTS/Getty Images
Nottingham Forest officially completed deadline day signings of Oleksandr Zinchenko on loan from Arsenal and Dilane Bakwa for £35 million from Strasbourg, capping a busy 12-player summer recruitment drive ahead of their Europa League campaign.
Nottingham Forest Complete Zinchenko Loan and £35m Bakwa Transfer on Deadline Day
Nottingham Forest secured two significant additions in the final hours of the transfer window, with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s season-long loan from Arsenal and Dilane Bakwa’s permanent £35 million move from Strasbourg both confirmed just before the 7pm BST deadline on September 1, 2025. The Ukrainian defender’s deal sheet was submitted in the closing moments, while Bakwa’s five-year contract represents Forest’s most expensive acquisition of a transformative summer window.
Zinchenko brings Premier League pedigree and tactical versatility to Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad, having won four Premier League titles with Manchester City before his Arsenal stint. The 28-year-old’s ability to operate as both left-back and midfielder addresses Forest’s need for depth across multiple positions as they prepare for European competition alongside domestic commitments.
Bakwa’s arrival from Strasbourg represents a statement of intent, with the versatile winger’s impressive record of 11 goals and 20 assists in 69 appearances justifying the substantial investment. The French club confirmed the permanent transfer as part of Forest’s strategic overhaul, with the player’s pace, creativity, and left-footed technique already generating optimism among supporters.
These signings complete Forest’s remarkable summer recruitment drive, bringing their total new acquisitions to 12 players ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Brazilian defender Cuiabano also joined on a four-year deal from Botafogo during the same deadline day flurry, demonstrating the club’s ambition to compete effectively across multiple competitions including their return to European football.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo now possesses enhanced squad depth and tactical options, though questions remain about how Zinchenko will integrate into the starting XI and whether Forest will cover his full wages during the loan period. Early fan reactions suggest cautious optimism about both signings, with Bakwa’s attacking statistics particularly highlighting Forest’s intent to strengthen their offensive capabilities for the challenges ahead.
