Nottingham Forest has strengthened its squad with the signing of French striker Arnaud Kalimuendo from Rennes in a deal worth around $35 million. The 23-year-old forward has joined the Premier League club on a five-year contract, marking a significant addition to Forest’s attacking lineup.
Kalimuendo expressed his excitement about joining Forest, saying, “When I heard about the interest from Forest, I was honoured. This is a proud moment for me, joining a team who had a strong season last year and a club with great history.” He added, “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.
Kalimuendo is no stranger to the beautiful game. He came through the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain, making five appearances for the club before enjoying loan spells at Lens, where he scored 21 goals in 65 outings. His breakthrough season at Rennes last year saw him net 18 times in 34 appearances in all competitions. This impressive form caught the attention of several top clubs, including RB Leipzig and Villarreal, but Kalimuendo chose Forest.
Nottingham Forest finished the 2024/25 season in seventh place after a surprising run that saw them spend much of the season in the Premier League’s top three. Despite a disappointing pre-season, Forest kickstarted the new campaign with a comfortable 3-1 win over Brentford on Sunday. The club has been active in the transfer market, signing winger Dan Ndoye, playmaker Omari Hutchinson, and ex-Manchester City midfielder James McAtee to bolster Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad.
Forest chief football officer Ross Wilson said, “It’s been a busy few days for us — the culmination of a lot of hard work from our staff over a number of weeks.” With Kalimuendo’s signing, Forest has spent around £147 million on seven signings in the transfer window. The club is set to compete in the Europa League, their first European campaign since 1996.
