Confirmed: Nottingham Forest agree terms with 22-year-old
By Matt Farr
Nottingham Forest have completed the long-awaited signing of central-midfielder Joao Teixeira on loan until the end of the season, it was announced on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old was named as one of Gary Brazil’s first transfer targets when the current Nottingham Forest chief took temporary charge of the club on January 14.
Teixiera had spent the first-half of the season on loan at Championship rivals Wolves, where he has played an important role. From 20 appearances in all competitions this term, Teixeira has claimed two goals and two assists.
However, following the arrival of Paul Lambert to the club, the former Portugal youth international has struggled for first-team opportunities and was allowed to push through his move to Nottingham Forest.
Forest announced the deal on their official Twitter account on Tuesday afternoon, and is eligible to make his debut against Rotherham.
Although Teixeira is under contract with Benfica, he is set to join the club on loan from Wolves, as Forest will be picking up the initial loan agreement made between the two clubs at the start of the campaign.
The Portuguese club had initially announced the transfer on Friday, but Nottingham Forest held back until Tuesday before confirming the deal, reportedly due to the need for FA approval.
When Benfica prematurely announced the deal at the end of last week, Nottingham Forest fans responded on Twitter with mixed feelings, but they are likely to reserve their overall judgement on the player until he plays his first couple of games for the club.
Football Insider verdict
The club needed a little more quality in the central-midfield area, and Teixiera can provide that. He was unfortunate to have been cast aside by Wolves, as he was doing an acceptable job at Molineux in the first-half of the season. However, the change in management saw a change in ideas, and now Teixeira will have to fight for his place and fight to impress a new club, a new manager, and a new set of fans. He should fit in well though, as there are a host of Portuguese players currently in the first-team squad at the City Ground, in his previous Championship experience should see him settle down a little quicker than you would usually expect.
In other Nottingham Forest transfer news, this attacker could be headed out of Nottingham Forest on loan as deadline day approaches its’ climax.
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