Nottingham Forest experienced a whirlwind of transfer deadline day activity, with owner Evangelos Marinakis making bold moves to solidify the squad for the 2025/26 season following a 3-0 defeat to West Ham.
John Victor and Cuiabano joined Forest from Botafogo, while Dilane Bakwa arrived from Strasbourg. However, the biggest surprise was the last-minute signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko, catching supporters off guard with the unexpected acquisition.
Amidst the flurry of incoming transfers, one departure that slipped under the radar was the decision to send Omar Richards back to Rio Ave. Richards, who had struggled to make an impact since his £8 million move from Bayern Munich in 2022, found himself overshadowed by new arrivals.
Richards’ time at Forest had been marred by injuries and limited playing time, despite a successful stint at Olympiacos. With Forest bringing in additional left-back options, Richards’ departure to Rio Ave offers him the chance to reignite his career and secure regular first-team football.
Despite the setbacks and challenges he faced at Forest, Richards’ move to a familiar club provides hope for a fresh start and the opportunity for a permanent exit from the City Ground in the future.
