Earlier this week, Harrison Armstrong was the subject of a proposed £40m-plus move from Everton to Nottingham Forest. Now the deal has been called off, and Everton's board have unanimously decided the 19-year-old midfielder will stay at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Supporter pressure around Armstrong
BBC Sport reported that Everton supporters sang Armstrong's name throughout Saturday's draw at Bournemouth, with some warning there would be a "riot" if he was sold. That reaction sat behind a transfer story that had already moved quickly once Forest's offer became public.
The size of the bid still matters. Forest were prepared to go to £40m plus a potential sell-on clause for an England Under-19 international who has already made two Premier League appearances in 2026, played 177 minutes and produced one assist. Those numbers help explain why Forest pushed, but Everton have now drawn a line through the move.
What Everton have decided
The key change is simple enough: Armstrong is staying. Everton's board have unanimously backed that call, which turns a serious approach from Forest into a deal that will not go any further.
For Everton, the decision keeps a 19-year-old academy midfielder in the squad after a summer bid that was always going to test their resolve. For Forest, it leaves a move for a player with senior minutes already behind him and no transfer to complete.
The focus now goes back to Armstrong's football at Everton, starting with how much more he is used after two Premier League outings and 177 minutes already on the board.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
