Nottingham Forest’s recruitment over the last couple of years has been hugely impressive, subsequently helping the club achieve European football for the first time in 30 years.
The investment from Evangelos Marinakis, coupled with the work conducted by the recruitment team, has allowed for the recent success and handed a generation of supporters memories to last a lifetime.
However, the 2025/26 campaign certainly has been a topsy-turvy one for the Reds, as seen during Monday’s defeat to fellow Premier League strugglers, Fulham.
Sean Dyche’s side ultimately remain too inconsistent to replicate the performances of last season, which could see numerous changes made in the January window.
That doesn’t apply to the majority of the current first-team squad though, with the manager and the supporters no doubt praying one player remains at the City Ground.
Why Elliot Anderson is becoming a £100m footballer
Back in the summer of 2024, eyebrows were raised across the country when Forest paid £40m for the signature of Elliot Anderson from Newcastle United in a PSR deal between the two clubs.
The sale of Odysseas Vlachodimos saw the net spend of the transfer work out to around £20m, with such a deal now being one of the best in the club’s recent history.
In the last 18 months, the 23-year-old has cemented his place at the heart of the Reds midfield, racking up a total of 64 appearances across all competitions.
The last couple of months have seen the youngster make huge strides, as seen by his string of starts under Thomas Tuchel in the middle of his England side.
His numbers in the Premier League this season are evidence of Anderson’s talents, which have seen him rank higher than the vast majority of similar players in the division.
He’s completed 1.2 dribbles to date, whilst also winning 7.3 duels per 90 – showcasing his box-to-box talents – but also placing him in the top 5% of midfielders in the league.
Anderson has also made 8.4 recoveries of the ball per 90 in 2025/26, with his overall total of 142 in the first 17 outings, by far and away, the best of any player in England’s top-flight.
As a result, he’s been subject to interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City, with a £100m asking price being mooted for his signature.
The Forest star who’s now becoming a £100m talent
As part of the £500m spending spree since the summer of 2022, Forest have landed the services of numerous top-level talents – but doing so at a bargain price.
Neco Williams was one of the first additions made after the return to the Premier League, joining in a £17m deal from Liverpool, but such a move was seen as overpriced at the time.
However, three and a half years on from such a transfer, the Welsh international is now one of the most underrated players in the league – subsequently racking up 129 appearances.
He’s now a key member of the club’s backline, even winning a total of three Player of the Month awards at the City Ground, with all three coming in a row back at the start of 2024.
Williams isn’t the only player who’s caught the eye within the backline over the last couple of years, with Murillo a player who has massively exceeded all expectations.
The Brazilian arrived in a deal worth just £10m from Corinthians back in the summer of 2023, with very few supporters knowing what to expect from the unknown quantity.
The 23-year-old is now Dyche’s number one left-sided centre-back at present, subsequently racking up just shy of 100 appearances after his transfer from his homeland.
Murillo’s importance to the first-team squad simply can’t be understated, as seen by the recent run, which saw the Reds lose two of the three games in which he was absent.
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His underlying stats from the ongoing Premier League campaign showcase his incredible talent, which could make him a man in demand during the upcoming window.
The Brazilian has won 1.6 tackles and made 1.9 interceptions per 90 so far this campaign, with both tallies the highest out of any defender in the current squad.
He’s also won 57% of the duels he entered, whilst also making 5.2 ball recoveries per 90 – backing up one analyst’s claim after being labelled “world-class”.
Murillo – Premier League stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
11
Goals & assists
1
Tackles won
1.6
Interceptions made
1.9
Duels won
57%
Ball recoveries
5.2
Progressive passes
4.2
Passes into final third
3.6
Stats via FotMob
In possession, he’s been just as impressive, subsequently making 4.2 progressive passes and 3.6 passes into the final third per 90 – arguably being the perfect all-round option.
At just 23, Murillo certainly has the world at his feet and has the potential to turn into one of the best centre-backs in European football for many years to come.
Ball-playing and left-footed defenders are a rarity in the modern game, which is only going to make his price increase further – potentially making him a £100m star in the future.
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