Everton Halt Harrison Armstrong’s £40m Move to Nottingham Forest
Everton have withdrawn from a proposed £40 million sale of midfielder Armstrong to Nottingham Forest after supporters made their opposition clear during the 1-1 Premier League draw with Bournemouth. Forest had moved for the Finch Farm graduate after receiving £116 million from Manchester City for Elliot Anderson, but the deal was halted before Armstrong could complete a move to the City Ground.
Forest bid ends after Everton supporters protest
Nottingham Forest had identified Armstrong as a possible replacement for Anderson, the England international sold to Manchester City for £116 million, or $153 million. Their £40 million ($53 million) proposal was initially met with a willingness from Everton to negotiate, with the club considering player sales as a route to generate money for other areas of the squad.
- Forest submitted a £40 million offer for Armstrong.
- Everton entered discussions and the midfielder was preparing for a move to Nottingham.
- News of the talks emerged before Everton faced Bournemouth.
- Fans voiced sustained objections to Armstrong’s departure during the 1-1 draw.
- Everton subsequently told Forest that the transfer would not proceed.
The strength of the reaction persuaded Everton’s board to reverse course. Such a direct supporter intervention in a Premier League transfer is highly unusual, particularly where talks had advanced to the point that a player was ready to leave.
Armstrong’s potential and England expectations
Former Everton defender Alan Stubbs said he could not recall seeing supporters exert that degree of influence over a club’s transfer decision. He believes the teenager has the ability to become an exceptional player, while warning that the attention now surrounding him will need to be managed carefully.
Stubbs said Everton’s staff and supporters were understandably delighted to retain Armstrong, but suggested the club would seek to temper the growing excitement around him and protect him from excessive expectation. He described the young midfielder as an especially promising prospect and said his progress towards fulfilling that potential will be closely watched.
Armstrong is also viewed as a player capable of following Anderson into the senior England set-up in the future, adding to the importance Everton place on his development.
Moyes accepts supporters must be heard
David Moyes acknowledged the feeling inside Goodison Park after the Bournemouth match, saying supporters should always be taken into account and are not necessarily mistaken in their views. At the same time, the Everton manager stressed that club leaders occasionally have to make unpopular choices for wider reasons.
Moyes pointed to figures from his previous experience, including former Preston North End chairman Bryan Gray and Sir Philip Carter, who was at Everton when Moyes first arrived, as examples of people required to make difficult decisions. He added that managers also face major calls over players, but clubs can have larger considerations to weigh up.
He said Everton would decide what it believed was right, while reminding fans that their manager is himself an Evertonian.
Contract position could revive exit interest
Armstrong agreed his latest Everton contract in January 2025, committing him to the club until the summer of 2028. Once the current season ends, however, only 12 months will remain on that agreement.
That timetable could create another important decision for Everton. The club are likely to explore an extension, but Forest and other potential admirers will continue to monitor the situation if Armstrong’s reputation rises further. The aborted £40 million move has kept him on Merseyside for now, yet his long-term future is likely to remain a subject of attention.
