Fakayejo Paul
Nottingham, UK – Nottingham Forest have officially confirmed the signing of 20-year-old Brazilian defender Jair Cunha from Botafogo, continuing their recruitment drive from the Brazilian club.
This marks the second player Forest has acquired from Botafogo this summer transfer window, following the earlier arrival of striker Igor Jesus.
Jair Cunha, a highly-rated centre-back, has penned a five-year contract at the City Ground, keeping him at the club until at least the summer of 2030.
While the exact fee hasn’t been officially disclosed by the club, reports suggest the deal is worth around £10 million.
Standing at 6ft 5in, Cunha brings a physical presence and technical skills to Forest’s backline.
Despite his young age and relatively limited senior experience with Botafogo, he has shown immense promise and has been a Brazil U20 international.
His arrival is seen as a strategic investment for Forest’s future, adding youthful talent to their defensive options as they prepare for the Premier League and European challenges.
This signing reinforces the strong transfer relationship between Nottingham Forest and Botafogo, both of which are part of John Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings network.
Earlier this week, Forest also finalized the transfer of 24-year-old striker Igor Jesus from Botafogo, who signed a four-year deal after impressing in the FIFA Club World Cup. Jesus reportedly cost Forest around £10 million as well.
The double swoop from Botafogo, along with other summer signings and ongoing transfer sagas (such as the potential departure of Morgan Gibbs-White), indicates Nottingham Forest’s commitment to building a competitive squad under Nuno Espírito Santo, leveraging their connections within the multi-club ownership model.