Softfootball can report that Danilo is on the verge of sealing a return to Brazil, with Nottingham Forest and Botafogo reaching an agreement for the 24-year-old midfielder.
A deal worth €25 million (around £21.7m/$29.1m) has been agreed between the two clubs, with Danilo now set to sign a four-year contract with the Rio based side. The move brings an end to his two-and-a-half-year stay at the City Ground. Botafogo F.R confirmed the move via a tweet on their official X account
Craque, jovem, multicampeão e novo pitbull do Clube Mais Tradicional! Bem-vindo, Danilo! 🌟✍🏽 #VamosBOTAFOGO pic.twitter.com/0wZELCtpK2
— Botafogo F.R. (@Botafogo) July 18, 2025
The Brazilian was initially close to a switch to Lyon earlier in the window, but uncertainty surrounding the French club’s league status, after they were briefly demoted to Ligue 2 due to financial irregularities, saw the deal collapse. Lyon was reinstated to Ligue 1 following a successful appeal, but by then, Botafogo had emerged as the frontrunners.
Danilo joined Forest from Palmeiras in January 2023 and made an immediate impact, scoring vital goals in the run-in to help Forest stay up in the 2022–23 Premier League campaign. However, his form dipped the following season, and he was dealt a major blow in the opening match of the 2024–25 season, suffering a serious ankle injury just six minutes in.
The injury sidelined him for over five months, during which time Elliot Anderson stepped up as a key figure in midfield. Danilo struggled to regain a regular spot in the team thereafter. Meanwhile, the departure of Danilo gives Nottingham Forest a chance to purchase a player before the summer transfer deadline.
As earlier reported by Softfootball, Nottingham Forest are vying to sign Aston Villa wonderkid Jacob Ramsey.
Ramsey, 23, has been a major subject of discussion at the City Ground after the newly promoted Europa League side sought to replace Morgan Gibbs-White, who is close to leaving the club for Tottenham, following in the footsteps of fellow player Anthony Elanga.
With Spurs’ £60 million approach for Gibbs-White earlier this month, Forest seems to have all it takes to secure the services of the England international. The transfer continues a growing pattern of movement between Forest and clubs affiliated with Eagle Football, the multi-club group owned by American businessman John Textor.
