Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal to sign defender Daniel Muñoz from Crystal Palace for an initial £22 million. The 30-year-old Colombia international is set for a medical in the coming days.
Forest, currently 13th in the Premier League with one point from their opening two games, are looking to strengthen a squad that has conceded three goals so far this season. The move for Muñoz reunites him with manager Oliver Glasner, who left Palace for the City Ground this summer. The club's next fixture is a home match against Tottenham on September 5th.
Daniel Muñoz is a 30-year-old right-back who has earned 35 caps for the Colombian national team. He joined Crystal Palace in January 2024 from Genk. Muñoz was an unused substitute in Palace's 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City last Friday. His last appearance came in a 2-0 defeat at Everton, which was Pierre Sage's first game in charge of the London club. The experienced defender will add depth to a Forest backline currently missing Ibrahima Sangare and Nicola Savona.
The signing addresses a clear need for Forest, who sit five points behind league leaders Manchester City. Muñoz's arrival provides immediate competition at right-back and brings top-level international experience. His familiarity with Glasner's methods should allow for a quick integration into the team's tactical setup. This deal represents a significant investment in a player entering his thirties.
Forest's business comes amid continued speculation surrounding other Premier League moves. Everton manager David Moyes confirmed his club had received a substantial offer, reported to be around £40 million, from Forest for 19-year-old midfielder Harrison Armstrong. Moyes indicated he would prefer to keep the teenager. "I know there’s been an offer, I don’t really think there’s much else I’ve got to say about it," Moyes said after Everton's 1-1 draw at Bournemouth. Armstrong played the full 90 minutes in that match, which saw James Tarkowski score a late equalizer.
The Everton boss praised the young midfielder's performance but hinted at squad limitations. "Harrison played really well, he did a lot of good work. He ran out of legs a little bit later in the game," Moyes stated. He suggested the final decision on any sale would be made by the club's board, not him alone. Moyes also pointed out that his squad could benefit from more additions, a sentiment echoed by Everton fans who chanted about "having a riot" if Armstrong was sold.
With the Muñoz deal agreed, Forest's focus will shift to finalizing the transfer and integrating the defender. The club's early-season form of a draw and a loss means points are urgently needed. The upcoming home game against Tottenham, who are 20th, presents a key opportunity. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on the official fixtures page. Securing Muñoz is a step towards shoring up a defence that will be tested throughout a long campaign, with the broader standings showing how tight the early table is.
