Nottingham Forest have signed free agent Jesse Lingard to a one-year deal.
The 29-year-old has signed a 12-month contract that could pay him close to £200,000 per week if all bonuses are met, though his base salary at the City Ground will be significantly lower.
West Ham had hoped to bring Lingard back to London Stadium after a successful loan spell, but after being released by Manchester United at the end of June, he will now resume his career with Forest.
Lingard passed his medical on Wednesday night and will now join Steve Cooper’s squad in Germany ahead of Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Union Berlin.
Lingard’s future has been the subject of months of speculation. He was expected to return to West Ham after leaving Old Trafford, with Hammers manager David Moyes eager to reunite with the England international after getting the most out of him during a four-month loan spell in 2021.
Lingard was also pursued by Everton, MLS clubs, and a Saudi Arabian team, but Forest made a late move earlier in the week after owner Evangelos Marinakis sanctioned breaking the club’s wage structure to reach an agreement.
Lingard has now signed a one-year contract, making him Forest’s 12th signing of what has been an exceptionally busy transfer window.
The club has already broken their transfer record in order to sign Taiwo Awoniyi, and they have also signed Neco Williams, Guilian Biancone, Omar Richards, Moussa Niakhate, Harry Toffolo, Lewis O’Brien, Wayne Hennessey, Brandon Aguilera, and Ryan Hammond. Dean Henderson has been loaned out by Manchester United.
