Morgan Gibbs-White could make dream transfer as ‘secret’ Nottingham Forest contract clause revealed

Morgan Gibbs-White’s Contract Details with Nottingham Forest

Morgan Gibbs-White, the 25-year-old English attacking midfielder, joined Nottingham Forest from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2022 and has since become a key player for the club, contributing 18 goals and 28 assists in 118 appearances as of July 2025. His contract history reflects Forest’s ambition to retain him amid interest from bigger clubs.

Original Contract (2022)

Signing Date: August 19, 2022

Duration: Five years (initially until June 30, 2027)

Transfer Fee: £25 million upfront, with up to £17 million in add-ons, making it a club-record deal at the time

Key Clause: Included a confidential £60 million release clause, which could be triggered under specific conditions (e.g., after a certain number of appearances or performance metrics). This clause was not publicly disclosed initially and was protected by a confidentiality agreement

Context: The deal helped Forest in their Premier League survival push, with Gibbs-White scoring his first goal for the club in November 2022.

New Contract Extension (2025)

Signing Date: July 26, 2025

Duration: Three-year extension (until June 30, 2028)

Financial Terms: Described as a “club-record deal” by Forest, implying a significant salary increase (exact figures undisclosed, but reported as the highest in club history). No release clause or “gentleman’s agreement” for departure in the following summer

Background: This extension came amid a transfer saga with Tottenham Hotspur, who attempted to activate the £60m release clause in mid-July 2025. Forest accused Spurs of an illegal approach and breaching confidentiality by accessing clause details without permission. After legal threats and internal discussions, Gibbs-White opted to stay, influenced by a meeting with owner Evangelos Marinakis and support from teammates. The move was hailed as a “statement of intent” by Marinakis, signaling Forest’s push for European contention after a seventh-place finish in the 2024-25 Premier League season

Impact: Secures Gibbs-White as a cornerstone for Forest’s 2025-26 campaign, where he had 7 goals and 10-11 assists in the prior season. His market value is currently estimated at €50 million.

This extension underscores Forest’s strategy to build around homegrown talents like Gibbs-White, who expressed his desire to “be part of something special” at the City Ground.