Omari Hutchinson joins Nottingham Forest in £37.5m move from Ipswich

Nottingham Forest have signed winger Omari Hutchinson for £37.5m from Ipswich Town.

England Under-21 international Hutchinson has agreed a five-year contract at the City Ground.

“I’m really excited to be here and can’t wait to get started. I’ve played at the City Ground a few times and it’s always felt like a hostile atmosphere, so I’m looking forward to playing here with the fans behind us,” the 21-year-old said.

“I’m going to give it my all and I’m looking forward to the challenge as it’s a new chapter for me, but I feel ready.”

Hutchinson’s arrival at Forest comes barely 24 hours after manager Nuno Espirito Santo questioned the club’s activity in the transfer market.

Forest will play in the Europa League this season, with the Portuguese boss suggesting his squad may be ill-equipped to handle the demands that a return to Europe for the first time in 30 years may bring.

However, Forest are also expected to finalise a move for Manchester City midfielder James McAtee after agreeing a fee around the £30m mark.

And the East Midlands club are also in advanced talks for Rennes striker Arnaud Kalimuendo before Sunday’s Premier League opener at home to Brentford, with the three deals worth close to £90m in total.

They have been looking for reinforcements after selling Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for a club-record deal of an initial £55m, and have already signed Dan Ndoye from Bologna.

Hutchinson – who scored in England Under-21’s extra-time final victory against Germany in June at the European Championships after being set up by McAtee – joined Town from Chelsea for £20m last summer after spending 2023-24 on loan at Portman Road, helping Ipswich into the Premier League.

He scored three goals in 31 league games last season but was unable to stop Kieran McKenna’s side dropping back into the Championship.