Nottingham Forest has secured the signing of Arnaud Kalimuendo from Rennes on a contract lasting five years.
The transfer fee is believed to be around £26m.
The French forward, aged 23, enjoyed a productive campaign last season, netting 18 goals in 34 matches as Rennes ended 12th in Ligue 1.
Kalimuendo started his professional journey at Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Rennes in 2022, where he struck 40 times in 113 appearances.
He also collected an Olympic silver medal with France at the Paris Games last summer.
Busy summer in the transfer market
This addition comes after Forest had already spent heavily in recent weeks, surpassing £114m on six arrivals prior to this move.
Over the weekend, they completed the signing of Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town for £37.5m and acquired James McAtee from Manchester City for close to £30m.
Earlier in July, Botafogo’s Igor Jesus joined for a reported £10m, providing further depth up front alongside Chris Wood.
Meanwhile, Anthony Elanga departed for Newcastle in a deal starting at £55m.
Despite speculation, Morgan Gibbs-White extended his contract, even though Tottenham attempted to lure him away – an approach that led Forest to weigh possible legal steps.
Manager’s concerns and player’s ambitions
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo had recently voiced unease over the club’s recruitment approach, warning that his squad lacked the depth required for the challenge of European football.
Nevertheless, Forest opened their Premier League campaign with a confident 3-1 victory over Brentford at the City Ground.
Kalimuendo expressed excitement at the move, saying he felt honored by the club’s interest and eager to show his qualities in England.
He added that while his previous season brought goals and assists, he now aims to reach another level.
The striker also spoke warmly about the City Ground, noting that he had watched matches last season and was struck by the atmosphere created by supporters.
Forest will compete in the Europa League this term after Crystal Palace’s drop into the Conference League.
