Nottingham Forest Bid £40m for Everton Teenager Harrison Armstrong
Nottingham Forest have submitted a formal £40m offer for Everton's teenage midfielder Harrison Armstrong, with Everton now discussing the proposal (BBC Sport).
The bid, first reported by The Athletic's David Ornstein, includes add-ons and a potential sell-on clause — a percentage of any future transfer fee that would flow back to Everton if Armstrong is sold on later. Forest are looking to strengthen in central midfield and have identified the 19-year-old as a priority target (TeamTalk).
Armstrong started Everton's 2-0 Premier League win against Crystal Palace and has 23 senior appearances for the club. Last season he made six starts and seven substitute appearances in the Premier League, having spent part of the campaign on loan at Derby County in the Championship, England's second tier. BBC Sport named him in their "22 Premier League players to watch" list last August, describing him as an 18-year-old midfielder for England.
The timing is awkward for Everton. Manager David Moyes has spoken publicly about his frustration with this summer's transfer market, saying he wanted more quality in his squad after a Carabao Cup second-round win at Preston North End. Adding to the pressure, Everton's main creative player, Iliman Ndiaye, has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City. Losing both Ndiaye and Armstrong in the same window would leave Moyes short of options in the attacking midfield positions where the team is built.
For Forest, the bid fits their recent transfer strategy under manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The club finished last season strongly and are pushing to consolidate their place in the Premier League's upper mid-table. Spending £40m on a teenager is a statement of intent, a willingness to invest in a player whose best years are ahead of him rather than a proven but declining name.
What makes this stand out is the price relative to experience. Forty million pounds for a 19-year-old with fewer than 30 senior appearances is serious money, even in a market where fees have inflated steadily for a decade. It reflects both the premium placed on English-qualified talent and the growing confidence of clubs like Forest, who no longer see themselves as merely surviving.
Everton's decision will hinge on whether the money can be reinvested in the squad before the window closes. A sell-on clause gives them protection if Armstrong fulfils his potential elsewhere, but replacing a homegrown player who has already broken into the first team is not straightforward. Moyes will want any funds available quickly.
The transfer window's final days are always the busiest. Whether Armstrong stays at Goodison Park or heads to the City Ground may come down to the final hours.
