Deadline Day: Nottingham Forest’s N2.2 billion bid for Nigerian international accepted

It could be another return to the lower rungs of English football for one of Nigeria’s footballing exports to Europe

Championship side Nottingham Forest are on the verge of completing a transfer deadline day deal for one-cap Super Eagles star Josh Maja, according to reports.

As revealed by RMC Sport, as per L’Equipe, Forest have had an offer of €4.5 million (N2.2 billion) accepted by French side Girondins de Bordeaux for the Nigerian international.

Maja is already in England to negotiate personal terms with the Reds and put pen to paper on a long-term contract.

If all goes according to plan, Maja will end a two and a half year stay in France, having joined Bordeaux in January 2019 from Sunderland.

The 22-year-old never really settled in Bordeaux and spent the latter part of last season in the Premier League with Fulham, where he scored three goals.

But having experienced non-stop action in two of the world’s most glamorous leagues, Maja is poised for a return to life in the Championship. There he will aim to fire manager Chris Hughton’s men towards promotion to the top-flight.

Nottingham Forest finished the last campaign in a disappointing 17th position out of 24 teams, narrowly avoiding relegation.

The last time Maja featured in the Championship, he scored once in 17 appearances for Sunderland.

The London-born attacker later fired 15 goals in only 24 League One games before he controversially moved to France midway through the 2018-19 season.