EXCLUSIVE: Forgotten Forest Star Linked With Mystery Move

Jota Silva Linked with European Move as Forest Spell Set to Come to a Close

Football Park exclusively understands that Nottingham Forest forward Jota Silva is open to a move away from the club in favour of a new challenge this summer, with unnamed sides from Spain and Italy showing an early interest in the 26-year-old winger and beginning preliminary talks with his camp.

Rumours of a move come after the two-time Portuguese international was shipped out on loan to Turkish giants Besiktas for the duration of the 2025/26 season - his temporary departure from the Forest side that bruised their way to the Europa League semi-finals stands as a signal that any future role at the club would be minor at best.

It is unknown whether the forward will be sent out on another loan deal or be definitively sold, but plenty of signs are pointing to a possible exit from the City Ground this summer.

Talks are said to be ongoing with interested parties, though no concrete offer is on the table as of now.

Silva Linked to European Switch

Through such a chaotic season for Nottingham Forest, one which has seen the club employ four separate permanent managers over the course of the campaign, Jota Silva has been plying his trade over in Turkiye with Besiktas.

His impact in the East Midlands came primarily from the bench over the course of his debut Premier League campaign with the manager who signed him - Nuno Espirito Santo - not deeming him a big part of his plans (which were cut very short) for the 2025/26 season, with the Portuguese playing 11 minutes as a substitute in a 3-1 opening day win against Brentford before Ange Postecoglou's ill-fated reign in Nottingham began. Silva had only a few training sessions under the Australian before heading to Istanbul in mid-September.

Morgan Gibbs-White has a message for Jota Silva on Instagram 👀 #NFFC pic.twitter.com/lkbMc3Qhes

— Forest Review (@Forest_Review) June 26, 2026

Though speculation has pertained about Silva potentially having a part to play under compatriot manager Vitor Pereira in the coming 2026/27 season, it has been reported to Football Park that the winger is open to a move away from the club with a few unnamed clubs taking an interest in his services, potentially on a permanent deal but with the possibility of another loan on the table as well. Silva is not believed to be desparate to make an exit from England this summer, as potentially hinted to by an interaction with talisman Morgan Gibbs-White on social media recently.

He impressed during his time in Istanbul last season, scoring another four goals from 18 Super Lig showings. He has always spoken highly of his time at Nottingham Forest during such an impressive season, but has also suggested he would be happy to join the club permanently if a move back transpired.

Jota Silva still has two years remaining on the four-year deal he signed back in the summer of 2024, with fans discussing his potential future at the club plenty over the past few weeks. Some believe that his re-introduction into the squad would be a positive one, but others believe that the likes of Omari Hutchinson and Dilane Bakwa - signed last summer in place of Silva and Paraguayan Ramon Sosa - will be more important figures to develop and integrate into the squad.

A twice-capped Portugal international back in the Spring of 2024, he was unable to force his way into Roberto Martinez's plans for the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Silva Remains Coy on Forest Future

Jota Silva was heavily utilised for his energy coming from the bench under Nuno Espirito Santo over the course of the 24/25 campaign, starting just five Premier League matches as Nottingham Forest qualified for the Europa Conference League, which soon turned into a campaign in the Europa League instead.

Signed for just £11m from Vitoria de Guimaraes in the summer of 2024 in his native Portugal, he cut a reputation for his work ethic and effort and netted four goals and contributed two assists over the course of his maiden season in Nottingham.

He was heavily linked with an exit back to Portugal by way of Sporting Lisbon last summer, but a potential move broke down in the final hour, eventually leading to a loan move to Besiktas in the late stages of the window, owing to the longer period of time that Turkish clubs are able to conduct transfer business.

Speaking earlier this summer, Silva was full of praise for manager Vitor Pereira and credited him from afar for steadying a ship that had seen him installed as the club's fourth permanent manager of the season.

“From what I hear from my teammates, [Vitor Pereira] managed to win over the group. The squad really likes the way the manager works and feels happy because they are playing attractive and exciting football. The performances have also been accompanied by results.”

However, he offered up few clues about where he would be plying his club trade in the forthcoming campaign:

“I will report for duty and do everything possible to have a great season individually and collectively, whether at Nottingham or another club I represent.”