Nottingham Forest Secure £26m Deal for Arnaud Kalimuendo Amid Busy Transfer Window
Nottingham Forest have bolstered their attacking line-up with the capture of Arnaud Kalimuendo from Rennes in a £26m transfer.
The 23-year-old, who scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season, becomes the latest addition in a busy summer for Forest, following the arrivals of James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson.
Forest’s £26m Kalimuendo deal underlines the club’s intent to bolster their frontline ahead of the new Premier League season.
Kalimuendo, a former Paris Saint-Germain academy graduate, is expected to strengthen Forest’s frontline alongside Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi.
The club has also eyed Douglas Luiz for a potential return to the Premier League from Juventus, indicating Forest’s intent to maintain a competitive squad this season.
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Arnaud Kalimuendo from Rennes on a five-year deal ✍️ pic.twitter.com/3iUta58Dse
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 18, 2025
Igor Jesus, another summer signing from Botafogo, was brought in to offer competition upfront, highlighting Forest’s strategy to deepen their attacking options.
Meanwhile, Forest’s pursuit of Rico Lewis appears to have hit a wall. The 20-year-old England defender, previously a teammate of McAtee at Manchester City, has made it clear he wants to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
“For me, I’ve never ever seen myself leaving,” Lewis stated after City’s 4-0 win at Wolves. “I’ve always wanted to play for City. It’s my dream. When I’m playing with the kind of players that I’m playing with, it brings out the best of me. So I’m so happy.”
Manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly keen to retain Lewis, who featured in City’s recent dominant victory. With the transfer window still active, Forest’s summer dealings underline their ambition to challenge higher up the table, though the Lewis chase shows that not all targets can be secured.
Arnaud Kalimuendo now joins a Forest side eager to make an impact in the Premier League, signalling that the club is serious about improving its squad depth and goal-scoring options.
