Transfer Centre

Besiktas to sign Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall on permanent deal?

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 19 February 2024

Besiktas to sign Forest defender Worrall on permanent deal?

Besiktas are reportedly keen on signing Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall on a permanent deal in the summer, after joining on loan last month.

Besiktas have reportedly made clear their intentions of signing Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall on a permanent deal in the summer.

The Forest captain was allowed to leave the club in January after falling down the pecking order this season under both Steve Cooper and Nuno Espirito Santo.

Worrall was banished from the squad by Cooper late into the Welshman's reign at the club, along with Scott McKenna, who also left on loan for Copenhagen last month.

The 27-year-old joined Besiktas late in the window in a loan deal that has got an option-to-buy inserted within it.

Already so early into his spell with the club though, Turkish outlet A Spor claim that Besiktas will approach Forest about signing the player at the end of the season.

After making his debut as late substitute in a 2-1 win over Antalyaspor in the Turkish Cup, Worrall made his first start four days later, helping the side to a clean sheet in their goalless draw against Kayserispor.

Worrall is expected to be in the side that will face Konyaspor on Monday evening too, as Besiktas chase a European spot in Super Lig.

With Galatasaray and Fenerbahce an unassailable distance ahead of the rest, the minor European places are all that is left to play for below them, and Besiktas currently sit fourth.

Manchester United's Antony in action with Nottingham Forest's Joe Worrall on August 26, 2023 © Reuters

The defender spoke about his future to talkSPORT ahead of his departure from the club, stating his need for regular minutes.

"I signed a contract extension but obviously my game time was limited with the new manager coming in and the direction that the club wanted to go in," Worrall admitted.

"I've played two games under Nuno but we're well stocked at Forest, there's a lot of talent and a lot of good players at Forest.

"For me, it's all about getting match fit and me sitting there is doing nobody any favours, so it's all about playing games and then we'll see."

Moussa Niakhate, Andrew Omobamidele, Willy Boly and Felipe have all often been the preferred choice to play alongside Murillo in defence for Forest, and it was the latter who helped them to a clean sheet in their win over West Ham United at the weekend.