Nottingham Forest have confirmed that Nigerian duo Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi will remain at the club next season, following the release of the team’s retained list on Monday.
Despite undergoing a squad shake-up that includes the departure of defender Harry Toffolo and the return of Alex Moreno to Aston Villa after a loan spell, Forest have kept faith in the Super Eagles pair.
Aina and Awoniyi were among several senior players listed as under contract for the 2025/26 campaign.
Aina, who joined Forest in July 2023 on a free transfer from Torino, enjoyed a standout season under Nuno EspÃrito Santo.
The versatile full-back featured in 35 Premier League matches, starting every game and accumulating over 3,000 minutes of action.
He scored twice, provided one assist, and contributed to 11 clean sheets, earning him a tag as one of the best full backs in the league.
The club had earlier activated a one-year extension clause in Aina’s contract in May, signalling their satisfaction with the 27-year-old’s performances.
His goals in key wins against Brentford and West Ham helped Forest navigate a mixed campaign in which they secured a UEFA Conference League slot despite spending most part of the season in Champions League position.
Awoniyi, meanwhile, endured a tough season that saw him dropped in perking orders, which limited him to just 893 minutes of Premier League action.
The striker scored just one league goal before suffering a severe abdominal injury during a match against Leicester City in May, which required emergency surgery and saw him placed in an induced coma. He has since regained consciousness and is recovering.
