Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal to sign Manchester City’s James McAtee, talkSPORT understands.
Nuno Espirito Santo is going to add 22-year-old McAtee to his side for a fee that could rise up to £30million.
Forest‘s interest in the England Under-21 international came after their Europa League place was confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), who dismissed an appeal from Crystal Palace.
Talks have been ongoing since that decision and now there has been a breakthrough, with the move expected to be done this week.
It’s understood that McAtee’s contract at the City Ground will include a buy-back and sell-on clause for Man City.
His boyhood club are making sure they can benefit should he fulfil his very high potential in the Premier League.
Forest have been long-term admirers of the midfielder, and see him as capable of playing as a no.8 or no.10, with Espirito Santo keen to strengthen in midfield this summer.
McAtee was also said to be drawing interest from teams in Germany earlier in the summer transfer window.
Eintracht Frankfurt were reportedly among those keen on him, having followed him since at least January.
The City academy graduate’s desire for a move away from the Etihad Stadium came after seeing his game time limited last season.
After spending two years on loan at Sheffield United, during which time he made 75 appearances and scored 14 goals altogether, the Englishman was made part of City’s first-team plans last season.
He made 27 appearances in all competitions, but just three of them were starts, prompting him to seek a move elsewhere.
McAtee scored seven goals last term, including a hat-trick in an 8-0 FA Cup third round win over Salford City in January.
With McAtee’s contract at City running until 2026, it seems the club have cashed in on him before then, with Forest an ideal location given their recent promotion to the Europa League.
The East Midlands outfit finished seventh in the Premier League last term and initially qualified for the Conference League.
However, FA Cup winners Crystal Palace were then relegated from the Europa League to the Conference League following a UEFA ruling over a breach of multi-club ownership rules.
And after the Eagles’ appeal to overturn this ruling was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Forest were then awarded their place in Europe’s second-tier competition.
McAtee’s arrival brings European experience to the team, who featured five times in the Champions League for City last term, scoring once.
The playmaker also offers international pedigree, having played every game at the Under-21 European Championship this summer.
McAtee was named as the England captain for the tournament and received the Player of the Match award after Lee Carsley‘s side defended their title with victory over Germany in the final.
He also has Premier League experience under his belt beyond just last season.
After helping Sheffield United to win promotion from the Championship in 2023, McAtee then made 30 top-flight appearances for the Blades in the following season, who were relegated straight back down.