Forest clinch double Botafogo swoop with Cunha addition
Towering centre-back Jair Cunha has joined Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee, reportedly in the region of £10m.
Nottingham Forest have completed a second signing from Brazilian club Botafogo, adding defender Jair Cunha after striker Igor Jesus arrived last week.
Six-foot-six centre-back Cunha has signed a five-year contract at the City Ground, having started all four of Botafogo's games at the Club World Cup.
Cunha scored in Botafogo's 2-1 group-stage victory over the Seattle Sounders as the Rio de Janeiro club reached the last 16, ultimately being eliminated by Palmeiras.
Cunha only joined Botafogo in February, having come through the ranks at Santos. He made 24 appearances for the club and made his debut for Brazil's under-20 side earlier this year.
The 20-year-old will be reunited with striker Jesus, who completed his own £10m move to Forest last week.
They could soon be joined by another Botafogo player, with reports suggesting left-back Cuiabano is set to follow them to the East Midlands.
Ross Wilson, Forest's chief football officer, said: "Jair is a young talent who has shown quality during his time in Brazil, and we are happy to have secured his signature.
"Jair has flourished in Brazil and now has new ambitions as he moves to the Premier League. We know he will be warmly welcomed into the group here in Nottingham."
Meanwhile, reports on Friday suggested Forest are considering legal action against Tottenham, who were closing in on a deal to sign Morgan Gibbs-White.
Gibbs-White was expected to complete a medical with Spurs after they activated a £60m release clause in his contract, but Forest believe they approached the player illegally.
Forest reportedly claim they did not grant Gibbs-White permission to speak to the Europa League victors, who completed a £55m deal for West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus on Thursday.
Gibbs-White created 51 chances in the Premier League last season as Forest finished seventh, securing Conference League qualification. He also created 66 for the club in 2022-23 and 74 in 2023-24.
That means he boasts the three best figures for chances created by a Forest player in a single Premier League campaign on record (since 2003-04).
Forest are also reportedly set to lose winger Anthony Elanga, who is close to joining Newcastle United for a fee in the region of £55m.
