Nottingham Forest have agreed a fee of around £13 million for midfielder Joao Carvalho from Benfica. The deal doubles the club record fee of £6.2m paid for Britt Assambalonga, from Peterborough in 2014.

Nottingham Forest Sign Joao Carvalho

Youngster Carvalho has played at all levels for Benfica and his native Portugal. He has also spent time at Vitoria Setubal to gain more first-team experience.

Carvalho is marked as a star of the future and will therefore be an exciting signing for Forest, fans will be looking forward to seeing him play. Despite his youth, he has been playing at high-level European competition, and can only benefit the Championship side.

Benfica Connection Beneficial

Also confirmed to be joining the East Midland side is Carvalho’s teammate forward Diogo Gonçalves on a long-term loan. An ideal choice, allowing both players to settle more easily and continue the connection. Gonçalves has similarly represented his country at all levels. He has also played as a winger, adding a further string to his and his new team’s bow.

Forest have undergone many changes, including replacing Mark Warburton in January with Aitor Karanka from Middlesbrough. It was a controversial decision, and untimely, as Warburton’s side had just eliminated Arsenal from the FA Cup.

Karanka will be looking to the youngsters to bring a higher level of football gained with Benfica. Their knowledge of each other will ergo be a bonus as Karanka strives to raise the bar at Nottingham Forest. A club which has somewhat declined over the last few decades. The Reds enjoyed memorable times in the top flight under iconic managers Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. Times which included a League Title and two European Cups.

Fans and club will be hoping the new regime, and indeed their new players, can begin to restore the club to some of its former glory.

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