Nottingham Forest Signs Arnaud Kalimuendo from Rennes
Nottingham Forest has secured the signing of Rennes striker Arnaud Kalimuendo on a five-year contract for a reported fee of £26 million.
The 23-year-old French forward scored 18 goals in 34 appearances last season, helping Rennes to a 12th-place finish in Ligue 1.
Prior to this acquisition, Forest had already invested approximately £144 million in six players during the summer transfer window.
Over the weekend, they also acquired winger Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town for £37.5 million and spent nearly £30 million on Manchester City midfielder James McAtee.
This flurry of activity follows manager Nuno Espirito Santo's recent concerns regarding the club's transfer strategy, as he believes his squad is not adequately equipped for a European campaign.
In their opening Premier League match of the season, Forest achieved a solid 3-1 victory against Brentford at the City Ground.
Kalimuendo will compete with Botafogo striker Igor Jesus for a place in the lineup, providing support for forward Chris Wood. Jesus, a 24-year-old Brazil international, was signed for a reported fee of £10 million in July.
Kalimuendo, who began his career at Paris Saint-Germain, has netted 42 goals in 105 appearances for Rennes since his arrival in 2022. He also earned a silver medal with the French national team at the Paris Olympic Games last year.
Upon joining Forest, Kalimuendo expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "When I heard about the interest from Forest, I was honoured. I'm ready for the challenge and I arrive here with good experience. I had a good season last year with goals and assists, but I want more and want to reach a new level here. I can't wait to play in the Premier League and at the City Ground. I watched games from last season, and it's clear the fans create a beautiful atmosphere."
Forest is gearing up for the Europa League this season, having qualified for the competition after Crystal Palace's relegation to the Europa Conference League.
While they sold Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for an initial £55 million, Morgan Gibbs-White has signed a new contract despite interest from Tottenham, which has left Forest contemplating legal action.