Nottingham Forest has officially announced the signing of James McAtee from Manchester City. The 22-year-old midfielder joins the club on a five-year deal for a fee reported to be up to £30 million. McAtee's arrival marks a significant addition to Forest's squad as they look to build on their previous season's performance.
McAtee, who captained England's U21 team to victory at the UEFA European Championship in June 2025, brings a wealth of experience despite his young age. He played a crucial role in the tournament, including a Player of the Match performance in the final against Germany. McAtee has made 34 appearances for Manchester City, scoring seven goals. He also had two successful loan spells at Sheffield United, where he played 75 times and scored 14 goals, providing eight assists. Last season, McAtee scored his first Premier League goal for City, a hat-trick in the FA Cup, and a goal in the Champions League.
"I feel ready for a new challenge and the Club had a great season last year, so I want to help build on that and show what I can do," McAtee said upon signing. "I'm so happy to be here and really looking forward to getting started with my new teammates, and I know the ambition of everyone associated with the Club, which is something I want to be a part of".
Nottingham Forest's Chief Football Officer, Ross Wilson, expressed his delight at securing McAtee's signature. "It goes without saying that we're absolutely delighted to welcome James to Nottingham Forest," Wilson said. "He's a player we've admired for a long time, and our conversations with Manchester City, James, his family, and his representatives over the past month have been incredibly constructive". Wilson also noted McAtee's determination to join Forest despite strong interest from other clubs. He is also excited about having three players from the U21 England team with Elliot Anderson, Omari Hutchinson and James.
Manchester City has included both buy-back and sell-on clauses in the deal. McAtee's departure comes as he seeks more regular first-team football, with opportunities at City limited due to the presence of players such as Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and others.
