Nottingham Forest have expressed interest in signing Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru from Italian Serie A club Lazio during the ongoing winter transfer window. The Premier League side has made exploratory enquiries about the 24 year old’s availability, according to Italian reports.
Lazio are understood to value Dele-Bashiru at around €15 million plus bonuses, and initial contacts between Forest and the Italian club have already taken place. Financial Fair Play considerations could see Forest favouring a loan with an option or obligation to buy rather than an outright purchase, depending on how negotiations unfold.
The Nigerian international is currently away on AFCON 2025 duty with the Super Eagles, but interest from Forest appears to be building despite his temporary absence. Lazio may be willing to sell this month as part of squad restructuring under coach Maurizio Sarri.
Editorial
In the flux of the January transfer window, few stories carry as much nuance as the potential link between Nottingham Forest and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. At first glance, it may seem like another name on the broad scroll of transfer rumours — yet beneath the surface lies a narrative about timing, opportunity and the pragmatic calculus of modern football.
Forest’s reported interest in Dele-Bashiru speaks to a club in evolution. After losing key figures like ValentÃn Castellanos and Matteo Guendouzi, the City Ground side are seeking fresh impetus in midfield, and the Nigerian midfielder represents a profile both versatile and physically assertive — qualities that Premier League midfielders must combine to thrive. In a league where tempo and robustness are non-negotiable, Dele-Bashiru’s blend of athleticism and tactical education may well appeal to Sean Dyche’s blueprint.
From Lazio’s perspective, recasting the squad mid-season is as much about economics as it is about sporting ambition. With a €15 million valuation placed on Dele-Bashiru, Forest’s interest offers the Italians an avenue to reinvest — and to recalibrate under Maurizio Sarri. The suggestion that a loan-to-buy structure could be employed underscores the caution of clubs operating under both financial fair play constraints and the Premier League’s escalating market pressures.
Dele-Bashiru’s situation — balancing club uncertainty with international prominence at AFCON 2025 — illustrates the delicate interplay between form, fitness and opportunity. For a player whose career has spanned Turkey and Italy before arriving on Serie A’s grand stage, this potential move to England is more than a change of scenery it is a chance to redefine his professional trajectory in one of football’s most demanding arenas.
Whether or not the deal materialises, Forest’s interest underscores a broader truth about the transfer market: that timing, circumstance and strategic foresight can elevate a player’s stock as much as goals or assists. In the months ahead, as negotiations take shape, all eyes will be on how this intriguing prospect unfolds — and what it might signal about Forest’s ambition and Dele-Bashiru’s future.
Did You Know?
- Dele-Bashiru joined Lazio in July 2025 on a permanent deal after initially arriving on loan, establishing himself in the Italian top flight.
- He scored his first Serie A goal for Lazio in a 3–0 victory over Bologna in November 2024, highlighting his capability in offensive transitions.
- Dele-Bashiru has made over a dozen appearances for the Super Eagles, contributing goals and experience at international level.
- Lazio’s squad reshuffle this winter has also involved other key names, meaning the Italian club may be more open to negotiation if the price is right.
- Financial Fair Play often shapes transfer strategies in the Premier League, with loans and structured deals becoming more common for clubs outside Europe’s elite spenders.
