By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Nigeria defender Ola Aina has signed a new three-year contract with Nottingham Forest, extending his stay at the City Ground until 2028.
The Nigerian international described the decision to continue with the Premier League club as a “no-brainer,” citing the team’s qualification for European football as a key motivator.
Aina, who joined Forest from Italian side Torino in the summer of 2023, confirmed the extension in an interview with the club’s official media.
“It’s a fantastic club — it’s a bit of me really, so it was a no-brainer to continue the journey,” Aina said.
“The club hasn’t been in Europe for a while, so to be part of the group that has finally done that is very special. It’s a challenge we’re all relishing.”
He praised the club’s ambition, crediting the high standards set by the ownership as a driving force behind recent progress.
“The ambition of the club is very high. It starts from our owner and filters down to the staff and players. Over the next three years, there’ll definitely be progression, and hopefully, we can get our hands on something,” Aina added.
Since joining Forest, the versatile full-back has made 59 appearances across all competitions, becoming a key figure in the squad.
With European football on the horizon, Aina expressed optimism about the club’s direction: “We’re probably going to go on another crazy journey, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.”
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
