Nottingham Forest Sign Daniel Muñoz from Crystal Palace for £22m
Nottingham Forest have landed Daniel Muñoz from Crystal Palace in a deal worth up to £22m, prising away one of the most influential right wing-backs in the league and reuniting him with a familiar face in the dugout.
Muñoz has signed a three-year contract at the City Ground, with Forest holding an option for a fourth. The Colombia international now links back up with Oliver Glasner, the coach under whom he thrived at Selhurst Park, as Forest move aggressively to reshape their squad before the deadline.
Forest get their man – and a proven winner
Palace’s decision to cash in on the 30-year-old came only after they secured Anan Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise, a move that opened the door for Muñoz’s exit and guaranteed them a healthy profit. They had paid £8.5m to bring him in from Genk in January 2024; now they bank almost three times that amount.
They are losing far more than a balance-sheet win. Muñoz became a cornerstone of Palace’s recent success, a relentless presence down the right and a key figure in their Conference League and FA Cup triumphs. His mix of energy, end product and defensive discipline gives Forest an immediate upgrade in a position that has troubled them.
For Glasner, it is a signing with almost no adaptation risk. He knows exactly what Muñoz delivers and how to plug him straight into his system. For Forest, it is a statement that they intend to do more than just survive.
Henderson going nowhere
Any hopes Forest had of turning this into a broader raid on Selhurst Park have been firmly shut down. Reports last week of a bid for Palace captain and goalkeeper Dean Henderson sparked talk of a late-window double swoop.
That prospect has been dismissed. Palace have made it clear Henderson will not be allowed to leave before the deadline, with the club determined to back new head coach Pierre Sage rather than strip out his core leaders in the final days of the window.
Forest’s late-window puzzle
Forest’s business will not stop with Muñoz. The club are in the market for attacking reinforcements after Omari Hutchinson’s move to AC Milan, and one name sits high on their list: Jacob Murphy.
Forest are keen on the Newcastle forward and have shown interest earlier in the window, as have Everton, though Newcastle have not yet received a formal approach. The situation is delicate. Newcastle are themselves chasing fresh firepower, with Lille’s Matias Fernandes Pardo and Stuttgart’s Bilal El Khannouss among the targets under consideration. Any Forest move for Murphy will likely hinge on how quickly Newcastle progress with their own plans.
There is movement around exits as well. Eintracht Frankfurt are in talks to re-sign Arnaud Kalimuendo on loan after a successful spell in the second half of last season. The German side want another loan with an option to buy, and the direction of travel is clear: Kalimuendo was left out of Forest’s matchday squad for the 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Saturday.
One deal already appears dead. Forest’s proposed move for Harrison Armstrong from Everton has collapsed. After receiving an approach, the Everton board took a unanimous decision not to sell, shutting that door with conviction.
Palace reshaping for Sage
While Palace have drawn a hard line on Henderson, their own squad remains in motion.
They are close to an agreement with Atalanta for Honest Ahanor on a season-long loan. The structure is unusual: the plan is for Ahanor to spend the season at Selhurst Park before joining Chelsea permanently next summer, with Chelsea negotiating a fee of around £40m with Atalanta.
Because Axel Disasi is already on loan at Palace from Chelsea, Premier League rules prevent Chelsea from loaning Ahanor directly to the Eagles, forcing this three-club workaround. Palace, though, stand to benefit from a high-potential player in the short term without a long-term financial commitment.
Not every player is as settled. Ismaila Sarr wants to leave before the window closes, but Palace insist he is not for sale and point to a contract running until 2029. Liverpool have made an approach in the past week and view him as one of several attacking options, alongside Yankuba Minteh at Brighton.
Sarr has missed Palace’s first two league games of the season through injury, yet his situation will be one of the most closely watched subplots as the clock ticks towards Tuesday’s 11pm deadline.
Forest already have their new right flank locked down. Palace have their profit and their stance. The final hours of this window will reveal which of them has judged the market better.
