Nottingham Forest agree £30m deal for Manchester City’s James McAtee

Midfielder set to become Forest’s fourth summer signing as City insert buy-back and sell-on clauses.

Nottingham Forest have reached an agreement with Manchester City for the transfer of James McAtee, in a deal worth up to £30 million.

The reigning Premier League champions have included both buy-back and sell-on clauses, meaning City could either re-sign the midfielder in the future or profit further should he be sold on.

McAtee is poised to become Forest’s fourth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of winger Dan Ndoye, striker Igor Jesus and defender Jair Cunha. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo is also close to finalising a move for Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town.

The 22-year-old will represent City’s most lucrative sale of the summer and the second midfielder to depart the Etihad in recent days, after Jack Grealish completed a loan move to Everton.

McAtee, who had attracted interest from several clubs, was widely expected to leave in search of regular first-team football. He previously spent two seasons on loan with Sheffield United, but despite making 27 appearances for City last season, he never secured a consistent starting role.

He was omitted from City’s Club World Cup squad, instead captaining England Under-21s to victory in the European Championships. McAtee scored seven goals for City last season — six of them in 2025 — but has only started three Premier League matches for his boyhood club.

Recent signings such as Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have added even more competition for places in midfield, while manager Pep Guardiola has indicated he wants a smaller squad.

Although City have spent over £300 million in 2025 and seen long-serving captains Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne depart, they had recouped relatively little from player sales prior to McAtee’s move.