Nottingham Forest agree €16m Gustavo Puerta deal before Olympiacos loan

Nottingham Forest have reached a verbal agreement to sign Gustavo Puerta, with the Colombian midfielder then expected to spend the 2026/27 season on loan at Olympiacos.

According to Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra, Forest will complete the permanent transfer by triggering the 23-year-old's €16million (£13.8m) release clause.

Puerta is already expected in Nottingham to undergo his medical and sign his contract. Once the transfer is completed, he will immediately join Olympiacos on loan, allowing him to play Europa League football this season.

The latest development represents a significant breakthrough after uncertainty surrounding Puerta's destination.

Sierra reports that a verbal agreement is now in place for the midfielder to become part of Evangelos Marinakis' football group.

Forest will officially own the player, but his immediate sporting destination will be Greece rather than the City Ground.

The plan is for Puerta to spend the full campaign with Olympiacos, where regular first-team opportunities and European football will form the next stage of his development.

Only the medical and contractual formalities remain before the agreement can be turned into a completed transfer.

The structure of the deal also matches comments made by Marinakis only days ago.

The Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner publicly revealed that he was prepared to pay Puerta's €16m release clause but appeared resigned to losing the midfielder to Benfica.

“We paid Puerta's €16m clause and he isn't coming, he wants to go to Benfica. What more can be done?” Marinakis said.

The answer has arrived remarkably quickly.

Rather than Benfica completing the signing, Forest have now found a route to secure Puerta permanently while still placing him at Olympiacos for the coming season.

Benfica had appeared to be in control of the race only a few days ago, particularly after Marinakis' comments suggested Puerta preferred the Portuguese club.

That situation has now changed dramatically.

By signing Puerta through Forest and immediately loaning him to Olympiacos, Marinakis' group can secure the midfielder's long-term rights while also strengthening the Greek club for its Europa League campaign.

For Forest, it represents another investment in a young player with potential future value, even though supporters will have to wait before potentially seeing him at the City Ground.

The deal is not formally completed yet, but with the release clause set to be paid and a verbal agreement secured, the remaining steps appear straightforward.

Puerta must now complete his medical and sign the necessary contracts before Forest can officially confirm his permanent transfer.

Once those formalities are completed, the Colombian is expected to head directly to Olympiacos and join their squad for the domestic season and Europa League campaign.