Nottingham Forest have confirmed that Nigerian international defender Ola Aina has signed a new three-year contract with the club, extending his stay at the City Ground until the summer of 2028.

The 28-year-old, who initially joined Forest on a one-year deal in July 2023 after leaving Serie A side Torino, has become a pivotal figure under head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.

Forest had triggered an automatic one-year extension to Aina’s original deal in May 2024, following their successful bid to stay in the Premier League.

That clause kept him at the club through the current 2024–25 season, paving the way for negotiations that have now culminated in a longer-term agreement.

Speaking after putting pen to paper, Aina expressed satisfaction with the direction of the club and his role within it. “I’m delighted to continue my journey here. It’s been a great experience so far, and I feel at home at Forest,” he said. “The belief from the manager and the fans means a lot.”

Forest announced the new deal on Saturday, highlighting Aina’s consistency and versatility throughout a standout season in which the club finished seventh in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup semi-finals. Aina made 37 appearances across all competitions last season, transitioning from his initial role as a left-back to solidifying his place on the right side of the defence.

Since arriving from Italy, Aina has made 59 appearances for Forest, scoring three goals and registering two assists. His performances and leadership on the pitch have made him a fan favourite and an integral part of the squad’s defensive structure.

The contract extension comes amid a broader strategy by Nottingham Forest to retain key figures. Striker Chris Wood and centre-back Murillo also signed new contracts earlier in the season, while head coach Nuno Espirito Santo committed his future to the club with a deal running through 2028.

Aina’s football journey began at Chelsea, where he came through the academy and made six senior appearances. He gained further experience with a loan spell at Hull City in the Championship during the 2017–18 season, before joining Torino initially on loan in 2018. The Italian club made the move permanent, and Aina went on to make 113 appearances for them. He also spent the 2020–21 campaign on loan at Fulham.

Born in London, Aina represented England at youth level before switching international allegiance to Nigeria in 2017. Since then, he has earned 40 caps for the Super Eagles and has been a regular presence in their defence.

With the new deal in place, Forest will hope to continue building on their recent progress with Aina anchoring the back line for years to come.