Nottingham Forest transfer nears as Gustavo Sá leaves Famalicão camp

Nottingham Forest are on the verge of completing the signing of Gustavo Sá after the Portuguese midfielder left Famalicão's pre-season training camp to finalise his move.

According to Record, O Jogo and A Bola, the 21-year-old has departed Famalicão's base in Como, Italy, and travelled to the Algarve, where Nottingham Forest are currently preparing for the new season.

The Portugal Under-21 international is expected to undergo a medical before completing a permanent transfer worth €20 million.

Sá's departure from Famalicão's squad signals that only the final formalities remain before the deal is officially completed.

The midfielder is expected to sign a long-term contract with Forest before immediately joining the club's multi-club development pathway.

Following the transfer, Sá is anticipated to spend at least the first half of the season on loan at Olympiacos, allowing him to gain regular first-team football before making the step into the Premier League.

The Greek champions and Nottingham Forest are both owned by Evangelos Marinakis, making the move another example of the group's integrated recruitment strategy.

Forest's agreement ends weeks of speculation surrounding Sá's future.

Earlier in the window, the midfielder appeared destined for a move elsewhere in the Premier League before Forest accelerated negotiations and reached an agreement with Famalicão.

The €20 million fee represents one of the biggest transfers in the Portuguese club's history and underlines Forest's belief in Sá's long-term potential.

Sá has established himself as one of Portugal's brightest young midfielders thanks to his intelligence, versatility and leadership qualities.

Capable of operating as an attacking midfielder or in a deeper creative role, the 21-year-old is recognised for linking midfield and attack rather than relying on individual dribbling or goals.

Standing at 1.89 metres, he also provides an imposing physical presence while remaining calm in possession and comfortable under pressure.

Despite his age, Sá captained Famalicão last season as the club secured a fifth-place finish in the Primeira Liga — their highest league position of the century.

That combination of maturity and technical quality convinced Nottingham Forest to invest heavily, with the expectation that a loan spell at Olympiacos will prepare him for the demands of English football.

Nottingham Forest have secured one of Portugal's most highly-rated young midfielders while using their multi-club model to maximise his development. Regular football at Olympiacos should provide Sá with valuable senior experience before Forest decide when he is ready to compete in the Premier League.

Sá is expected to complete his medical and sign his Nottingham Forest contract in the coming hours before joining Olympiacos on loan for the first part of the season. Forest will then monitor his development ahead of a potential Premier League role in the future.