Club cancel transfer agreement with Nottingham Forest after ‘last-minute twist’

Nottingham Forest have suffered a dramatic setback in their attempt to sign Celta Vigo defender Javi Rueda.

The 24-year-old appeared to be closing in on a move to the City Ground after Forest made him a leading target for the right wing back position.

The Guardian reported that negotiations had reached an advanced stage, with a deal worth around £12.8 million under discussion.

Rueda was also understood to be ready to accept the move, and it looked as though Forest were preparing to complete one more important signing after agreeing a club record package with Chelsea for Liam Delap.

However, Marca journalist Matteo Moretto, who also collaborates with Fabrizio Romano on YouTube, now reports that Celta have withdrawn their approval for the transfer.

Nottingham Forest suffer major Javi Rueda transfer blow after Celta U-turn

REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

The Spanish club had apparently agreed to sell Rueda to Forest, but after a ‘last-minute twist’, they have now decided that keeping him is more valuable than accepting Forest’s offer.

Celta are also said to be planning another improvement to his contract in an attempt to remove any uncertainty over his future.

The decision follows public opposition from head coach Claudio Giráldez.

Giráldez made his feelings clear during his latest press conference, arguing that the figures being discussed did not represent good business for Celta. He also stressed Rueda’s importance to the team and his belief that the defender was happy in Vigo.

The financial structure may have played a major part in the reversal.

Rueda joined Celta after leaving Real Madrid, but the Spanish giants retained the right to receive 50 per cent of a future transfer fee. A near-£13m sale would therefore have left Celta with only around £6.5m.

That is not a particularly large return for a young player who has become a major part of Giráldez’s plans.

Rueda came through the academy systems at Malaga and Real Madrid before joining Celta in 2023. He later spent a productive season on loan at Albacete, which prepared him for his breakthrough in La Liga.

The right back made 38 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring four goals and providing seven assists.

His speed, energy and ability to reach the final third made him an obvious fit for Oliver Glasner’s system.

Glasner places considerable demands on his wing backs. They must provide width, press aggressively and recover quickly when possession is lost. Rueda has experience playing both as a conventional full back and further forward, which would have given Forest another flexible option.

Ola Aina and Neco Williams can both play on the right, but Williams is also required on the opposite flank. Forest had therefore identified the position as one of their remaining priorities.

Unless Celta change their stance again, Forest will now have to move quickly towards an alternative.