Everton beat Nottingham Forest to new signing as Arnaut Danjuma deal concluded

Nottingham Forest were interested in signing Arnaut Danjuma before he chose to join Everton on a season-long deal, according to the Mail Online.

The newspaper reported on its online edition (23 July) that Forest were on bringing Danjuma to the City Ground from Villarreal.

However, Forest instead chose to focus on Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga, who the Toffees have also been reportedly interested in signing.

The club confirmed on their official website on Sunday that Danjuma has joined for the duration of the 2023-24 season, becoming their second signing of the window after Ashley Young signed on a free transfer.

The move comes just six months after Danjuma turned down the opportunity to sign for Everton on loan in favour of a move to Tottenham.

Good business

The news that Everton beat a rival to the signing of Danjuma will be heartily welcomed by the fanbase at Goodison Park.

Everton and Forest are likely to be shopping in similar markets this summer and the Toffees have seemingly lost out on one target to Steve Cooper’s side with Elanga seemingly bound for Nottingham.

It has taken a great deal of patience for Everton to finally land Danjuma, who has stated that the uncertainty over who would be manager at Goodison Park was behind his decision to join Spurs in January.

Everton supporters might have greeted the news their club was back in Danjuma with more than an air of scepticism, and understandably so given how things transpired in the winter.

But they need more firepower in the forward areas and Danjuma will add a directness and a spark of creativity, something that was badly lacking at Everton last season.