Fantastic double deal for Nottingham Forest as Newcastle midfield raid confirmed and PSG man joins

Nottingham Forest have announced the arrival of central midfielder Jonjo Shelvey from Newcastle United, while goalkeeper Keylor Navas has also joined from Paris Saint-Germain.

Shelvey signed for Newcastle from Swansea City in January 2016, going on to make over 200 appearances for the Magpies. But his time in the north east is up as he has joined Forest on a contract lasting until summer 2025.

Forest have announced he will wear the number six shirt at the City Ground. Shelvey, who has won six caps for the England national team, becomes Steve Cooper’s fifth signing of the January window. He follows Danilo, Gustavo Scarpa, Chris Wood and Felipe to Forest. And they have also announced the signing of Keylor Navas.

During his first interview as a Forest player, Shelvey explained the influence of Cooper on his move.

“It’s a pleasure to be here,” he declared. “As soon as I found out Forest were interested, it caught my eye straight away and I just couldn’t wait to get down here.

“It’s a fantastic football club that has so much history and I’m really looking forward to getting started.

“My main goal straight away is to fight for my place in the team and stay there. It’s not going to be easy because there’s a lot of competition for places, but it’s a challenge I’m really looking forward to and the competitiveness can only help the team going forward.

“I spoke to Eddie Howe and he had such good words to say about Steve Cooper. I previously knew of him from my time at Liverpool, so I knew what a fantastic coach he was, but meeting him for the first time has been a breath of fresh air.

Jonjo Shelvey looking forward to working with Forest boss

“He’s told me what he expects and the high standards he sets, so I can hope I can come and help the team push to stay in the Premier League. I’ve been in this league a long time, I know what it takes to stay up and what it takes to get a good team to gel, so I’m looking forward to getting started and working with the players that are here.”

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe thanked Shelvey for being a loyal servant to the club and labelled him a ‘brilliant player’.

Shelvey also sent Newcastle fans an emotional message once his exit reached completion, and it can be read here.

The 30-year-old is not the only new player Forest fans can get excited about, as Navas’ move has also been completed. A club statement on the shot-stopper read: ‘Nottingham Forest is delighted to announce the signing of Keylor Navas from Paris Saint-Germain.

‘The goalkeeper has signed on loan for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign.

‘Navas, 36, brings a wealth of international and domestic experience to the Club, having made 564 appearances in a trophy-laden career.’

These are two excellent signings for Forest. Shelvey is a player who brings a wealth of Premier League experience, and he is a reliable performer too.

Navas, meanwhile, has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, namely Real Madrid and PSG. His arrival should inspire the Forest players to step up their game.