Omar Richards extends Forest deal despite no first-team appearance | OneFootball

Omar Richards remains a Nottingham Forest player for next season after a previously undisclosed extension signed before his loan to Rio Ave, despite not making a first-team appearance since 2022, according to NY Times.

He joined from Bayern Munich for £7.3 million on a deal to 2026, part of a £150 million, 22-signing spree. After Willy Boly’s exit, only four remain from that group, with Neco Williams, Taiwo Awoniyi and Morgan Gibbs-White expected, Richards less so.

A hairline leg fracture, missed in his medical as X-rays were not routine, struck after his first training session and ruled him out of 2022-23.

Back the following pre-season, further niggles, including a hernia, delayed progress. He joined Olympiacos on loan in August 2023 and returned in December against Backa Topola, making 14 appearances.

He scored in a 1-1 draw with Sunderland during Forest’s 2024 pre-season, then moved to Rio Ave. Across two spells there he made 45 appearances, with a knee injury interrupting the latest season, and the team finished 12th after 11th.

Forest have not explained the extension, which was not announced, and it might have protected his value or spread costs. It feels unlikely Vitor Pereira will draft him in, with Williams player of the season and Luca Netz impressing, though a pre-season assessment and another sister-club loan remain possible.

Source: NY Times