Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi Stay Put as Nottingham Forest Unveils Next Season’s Plans
Nottingham Forest is shaping its team for the upcoming season—and in the mix, two familiar faces are sticking around. Nigerian stars Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi will both remain part of the squad heading into the 2025-2026 campaign.
The club made the announcement while releasing its official retained list, confirming some changes to the squad. Defender Harry Toffolo is on his way out, and Alex Moreno is heading back to Aston Villa after his loan ended. But despite a few shake-ups, Aina and Awoniyi are here to stay.
Aina, who signed with Forest after leaving Torino last year, quickly became a fan favorite. The full-back played in nearly every match, holding down the defense and adding a couple of goals and an assist to his name. His performances were solid, dependable, and often game-changing. Forest rewarded him by triggering an extension in his contract—a clear sign that his work hasn’t gone unnoticed.
His goals against Brentford and West Ham were high points in a season filled with ups and downs. Though Forest didn’t quite break into the Champions League conversation, they wrapped up the season with a spot in the UEFA Conference League—thanks, in part, to Aina’s contributions on both ends of the pitch.
On the other hand, it was a rough year for Awoniyi. The forward faced a long spell on the sidelines after a serious abdominal injury during a match against Leicester. Emergency surgery followed, along with a tough recovery. While he spent much of the season off the field, Forest has decided not to move on just yet.
Though he only found the net once this season, the club hasn’t forgotten his impact in earlier campaigns. Awoniyi’s goals in 2022-2023 were a big reason Forest stayed in the top flight. And with his recovery now underway, the door is open for a strong return.
Meanwhile, the club has put a new deal on the table for defender Willy Boly and is still deciding on goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey’s future.
As Forest gets ready for the new season, some players are moving on—but for Aina and Awoniyi, the journey continues.
