Exit-linked Nottingham Forest star Murillo reacts as Saudi Pro League deal agreed

Murillo has taken to Instagram to react to a new Nottingham Forest transfer as Adam Berry leaves permanently to join Saudi Pro League club Al Kholood.

Murillo has emerged as one of the best young centre-backs in world football over the last 18 months at Forest after he was key to their bid for Champions League qualification last season.

The 23-year-old has made 98 appearances for the club since a 2023 move from Corinthians, with 23 of those coming this season, while he was also handed his first Brazil cap last March.

Football Insider revealed prior to January that Chelsea were plotting a move to sign Murillo this month amid a desire to bolster their options in the heart of the backline.

Forest are set to block any approaches for Murillo before the 2 February deadline, but he could still leave in the near future if they are unable to climb back up the Premier League table this season.

Murillo likes Adam Berry’s new Instagram post after Al Kholood move

Forest’s increased investment in recent years under owner Evangelos Marinakis has seen young players from their academy largely struggle to make the step up to first-team football.

20-year-old Berry is one of those, after he joined the Reds’ youth set-up from Man United in 2024 with a view to progressing to senior football, but was never given a chance.

The versatile attacker only signed a new contract at Forest last summer amid links away, but he has now left for good after scoring five times in 23 appearances for the Under-21s in the first half of the season.

Berry has officially moved to Saudi Pro League side Al Kholood, as they took to Instagram on Monday to announce the move with a post that read: “To support up the midfield, we are pleased to announce the contract of Englishman Adam (Berry) for two and a half seasons,” alongside a graphic.

Their post was reacted to by Murillo, who left a like, while club captain Ryan Yates did the same, and fellow academy star Zach Abbott commented fist-bump and red heart emojis.

Who else could leave the City Ground before the February deadline?

Forest are not particularly in a position to sanction the exit of any of their key men this month, as they sit just one place and five points above the Premier League relegation zone.

Murillo looks set to stay, but more first-team stars could join Berry in departing, with James McAtee linked to Leeds United as he struggled for game time under Sean Dyche.

Oleksandr Zinchenko looks set to return to Arsenal before joining Ajax, amid an unsuccessful loan spell at Forest in which he has made just five league appearances.

Douglas Luiz could also leave Forest to return to his parent club, Juventus, with Chelsea believed to be interested in his services as Liam Rosenior aims to add more experience to his young squad.

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