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In his only summer as manager, Aitor Karanka made wholesale changes to his squad in a bid to turn Forest from strugglers to contenders.

The former Reds manager, appointed on January 8, 2018, added 17 new signings to his first team squad from the end of the season as he prepared to mount a challenge at the right end of the Championship.

Forest signed players from across Europe and, here, we take a closer look at those that arrived from the end of May 2018 to November 2018 before Karanka departed on Friday morning.

Michael Dawson

Age: 34

Position: Central defender

Signed: May 30

From: Hull City

Nationality: English

Cost: Free – contract at the Tigers had come to an end

Contract: Two-year contract

What did he say? "I'm absolutely delighted. There has been speculation since January. It was open that Forest tried to sign me, I tried to get here, but it wasn't to be but finally it is going to be happening. I'm coming home."

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Michael Dawson. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Diogo Goncalves

Age: 21

Position: Winger

Signed: June 14

From: Benfica

Nationality: Portuguese

Cost: Season-long loan

Contract: The loan deal has an option to buy next summer

What did he say? "I am very happy to come here and I am proud to join this club. I hope that my football can improve here and help the club to get the best results as possible.

"Hopefully the fans can get behind the team and help us to achieve promotion.”

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Diogo Goncalves. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Joao Carvalho

Age: 21

Position: Attacking midfielder

Signed: June 14

From: Benfica

Nationality: Portuguese

Cost: 15m euros (around £13m)

Contract: Five-year contract

What did he say? “I am very proud to join this club, a great English club. In history, they have won two European Cups and I am very happy to be here. I want to help the club to get good results and hopefully to help the club get back to the Premier League.”

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Joao Carvalho. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Gil Dias

Age: 21

Position: Winger

Signed: June 23

From: Monaco

Nationality: Portuguese

Cost: Season-long loan deal

Contract: As with Goncalves, the deal has an option to buy Dias in 12 months’ time

What did he say? “It’s an honour to wear such a historical jersey and to have the opportunity for playing in the exciting English football. I can promise hard work and commitment to help the club to go to the Premier League.”

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Gil Dias. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Jack Robinson

Age: 24

Position: Left-back

Signed: June 30

From: QPR

Nationality: English

Cost: Free transfer after his contract at Loftus Road expired

Contract: Initial two-year deal

What did he say? “I am delighted. I met Aitor about four weeks ago, we had a meeting and from the first moment I met him, this was the club that I wanted to sign for.

"He has the same ambition that I do in striving forward and getting this club to the top level so it was an easy decision for me to sign.”

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Jack Robinson. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Hillal Soudani

Age: 30

Position: Striker

Signed: July 1

From: Dinamo Zagreb

Nationality: Algerian

Cost: Undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of 3m euros

Contract: Three-year contract

What did he say? "I am very happy to sign for Nottingham Forest and I hope to give all my best to help my team-mates and to make all of the fans happy every game.”

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Hillal Soudani. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Tobias Figueiredo

Age: 24

Position: Central defender

Signed: July 1

From: Sporting Lisbon

Nationality: Portuguese

Cost: Undisclosed fee believed to be around 2m euros

Contract: Four-year contract, having originally joined on loan in January

What did he say? “This season was a time of change for me. The signature for this historic club, with fantastic fans, was one of the most important decisions of my life.

"Next season we want to give you everything and we will do everything for this great club on and off the pitch."

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Tobias Figueiredo. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Costel Pantilimon

Age: 31

Position: Goalkeeper

Signed: July 3

From: Watford

Cost: Undisclosed fee

Contract: Three-year deal

What did he say? "I am very happy. I really wanted to come back. I appreciate the club and I appreciate the people who did this to make it possible. I want to enjoy the moment and to get what we want – the promotion.”

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Costel Pantilimon. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Lewis Grabban

Age: 30

Position: Striker

Signed: July 6

From: Bournemouth

Cost: Undisclosed fee (understood to be around £6m)

Contract: Four-year deal

What did he say? "Promotion. My ambition is always promotion. I wouldn't have come here if the club's wasn't that either. I'm happy to be here and can't wait to get started now."

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Lewis Grabban. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Jack Colback

Age: 28

Position: Midfielder

Signed: July 20

From: Newcastle United

Cost: Season-long loan deal

Contract: The Reds have the option to make his move permanent in the summer when his contract expires at Newcastle.

What did he say? "To get promotion is one of the reasons I came back.

"Also the support of the manager during off-season. He expressed his feelings about wanting to get me back."

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Jack Colback. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Luke Steele

Age: 33

Position: Goalkeeper

Signed: August 1

From: Unattached - he left Bristol City at the end of last season

Cost: Free transfer

Contract: The experienced stopper has agreed a two-year deal

What did he say? "When a club like Nottingham Forest come asking for you, straight away your ears prick up. It’s a real honour to have that put in front of you."

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Luke Steele. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Michael Hefele

Age: 27

Position: Central defender

Signed: August 9

From: Huddersfield Town

Cost: Undisclosed fee (understood to be around £350,000)

Contract: Three-year deal

What did he say? “It is great. I am very happy. The last 24 hours have been crazy, but I am so proud and so much stress goes away from me. I am so happy to be here at The City Ground, it is an unbelievable feeling for me."

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Michael Hefele. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Sam Byram

Age: 24

Position: Right-back

Signed: August 10

From: West Ham United

Cost: Season-long loan

Contract: The former Leeds star is initially here until the end of the Championship campaign.

What did he say? "It feels really good. It has been rumoured for a while now but I am glad to be here and I can't wait to get started.

"The manager played a big part in me coming here and you can see the players he has brought in."

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Sam Byram. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Saidy Janko

Age: 22

Position: Right-back

Signed: August 31

From: FC Porto

Cost: Season-long loan

Contract: The former Celtic man joins from the Portuguese champions until the end of the campaign.

What did he say? "It feels good, it is a massive club with a lot of history and it has been good so far.

"Since I was 17, I have played mainly in England, I know the league and I am looking forward to the season."

(Image: Nottingham Forest FC)

poll loading Saidy Janko. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Panagiotis Tachtsidis

Age: 27

Position: Midfielder

Signed: September 5

From: Olympiacos

Cost: Free - he was unattached after leaving the Greek side in the summer.

Contract: Two-year deal

What did he say? "It is a great honour for me to join such a fantastic club in Nottingham Forest. Everyone knows about the history of this club so to be able to pull on the shirt is a proud moment.

"I like to compete and be strong, but I also like to play good football and with the players we have here, I know that this will suit me and I just can't wait to get started."

UPDATE: He has now joined Lecce on loan until the end of the season.

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Panagiotis Tachtsidis. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Claudio Yacob

Age: 31

Position: Midfielder

Signed: September 6

From: West Brom

Cost: Free - he was unattached after leaving the newly-relegated outfit.

Contract: Two-year deal

What did he say? "It feels very good and I am happy for this opportunity. I can't wait to start training with my teammates.

"This is a big club, with big history and it is time to go back to the Premier League. I want to be playing the last game of the season with the opportunity of minimum in the play-offs."

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Claudio Yacob. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss

Karim Ansarifard

Age: 28

Position: Forward

Signed: November 3

From: Olympiakos

Cost: Free - he was unattached after leaving the Greek champions.

Contract: Runs until summer 2020

What did he say? “I am really so happy and so proud to be part of this club, this historic club, and I think it will be an amazing season for me to try my best here and give 100 percent in every single game. I cannot wait to start with Nottingham Forest at The City Ground.

“I know English football is one of the top leagues in the whole world, and I know how competitive and how difficult it is. There is lots of competition and it is really tough."

(Image: NFFC)

poll loading Karim Ansarifard. Hit or miss? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Hit Miss poll loading Where will Forest finish in the Championship this season? 7000+ VOTES SO FAR We'll win the league Automatic promotion Top six Promotion through the play-offs Top half Bottom half

* This article was originally published in July 2018, and updated on January 11, 2019.