I’m a fan who got out of bed to help Nottingham Forest unveil Ibrahim Sangare on deadline day

Deadline day will always be a memorable day for one Nottingham Forest fan who had the opportunity to be part of the unveiling of one of their new signings. Steve Cooper’s team announced the arrival of Ibrahim Sangare from PSV Eindhoven in a club record deal worth around £30 million. Sangare, who had just helped his former team secure a place in the Champions League group stages with a 7-3 aggregate win over Rangers, completed his move to Forest on deadline day.

As the clock approached the 11pm deadline on Friday night, most fans were preparing for bed before Forest’s match against Chelsea, which was being broadcast live on talkSPORT. However, one Forest fan named Thomas received a late call to assist in welcoming Sangare to the club due to his French speaking skills. Thomas had the surreal experience of going from being in bed to translating for Sangare at the City Ground. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and mentioned that it still felt unreal.

Forest had specifically requested a fan who could speak fluent French to help with the unveiling, and Thomas answered the call. He quickly got dressed in a Forest shirt and arrived at the City Ground just 15 minutes later. Sangare was then presented under the stadium lights, marking the beginning of his journey with Forest.

Sangare brings a wealth of experience to Forest, having made 140 appearances for PSV and scoring 15 goals from midfield. He has also played in the Europa League and Europa Conference League for the Dutch giants. On deadline day, Forest made a total of seven signings, including Callum Hudson-Odoi, Andrew Omobamidele, Nicolas Dominguez, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Nuno Tavares, and Divock Origi. Hudson-Odoi, Omobamidele, Dominguez, and Vlachodimos signed permanent deals, while Tavares and Origi joined on loan from Arsenal and AC Milan respectively.

In addition to the new signings, Forest bid farewell to Brennan Johnson as he completed his move to Tottenham in a £45 million deal. It was a busy and eventful deadline day for the club.

On a separate note, talkSPORT has launched a new match center where fans can stay updated with the latest football fixtures, results, and standings. It provides comprehensive coverage of the Premier League, including fixtures, the league table, and all other league tables and results.

Overall, it was an exciting and memorable deadline day for Nottingham Forest, with Thomas, a dedicated fan, playing a unique role in welcoming Sangare to the club.
Deadline day renewed hopes for Nottingham Forest Football Club fans, when a fan made an unexpected contribution to the unveiling of their latest signing, Ivory Coast midfielder Ibrahim Sangare.

The 20 year old joined Forest on a four year deal from Ligue 2 side Toulouse FC. And, Donovan Gilligan, a life-long Forest fan, didn’t hesitate to leap out of bed and assist in the official process.

Having arranged a meeting with Head of Recruitment, Steve Walsh, at the Nigel Doughty Academy, Donovan was greeted with “stencils, flags, posters and scarves” all ready for the occasion. The official welcoming team had even prepared a local delicacy, a Nottingham pork pie, to present to the player.

When asked why he chose to assist on this special day, Donovan replied “I implicitly understand the passion that so many fans have for their clubs, both at home and abroad. And, while Nottingham Forest has had many highs and lows over its history, I am so proud as a fan that we can still make a difference when our club needs us most.”

Such a heartwarming sentiment was missing from some other clubs’ deadlines day events, and serves as a reminder of the importance of passionate fan support when it comes to a team’s recognition.

Donovan and the Forest welcoming team gathered at the side of the pitch for the unveiling. A banner was revealed with a giant picture of the player and the words “Welcome Ibrahim Sangare” in his native tongue of French.

The culmination of enthusiasm, pride, organization and support was made possible thanks to Donovan and his fellow fans. Nottingham Forest news has a new protagonist, and his name is Donovan Gilligan.