Chelsea working on deal to bring back player they sold for £9m who Jose Mourinho once embarrassed

Wed 19 March 2025 11:45, UK Updated Wed 19 March 2025 12:18, UK

TBR Football understand Chelsea are interested in signing Ola Aina from Nottingham Forest.

The Nigeria international has enjoyed a tremendous 2024/25 campaign so far �?helping the Reds sit third in the Premier League and on course to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	29	21	7	1	69	27	42	70
2	ArsenalArsenal	29	16	10	3	53	24	29	58
3	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	29	16	6	7	49	35	14	54
4	ChelseaChelsea	29	14	7	8	53	37	16	49

Now, sources have informed TBR Football that Chelsea are interested in bringing Ola Aina back to Stamford Bridge �?although the Blues face competition.

Chelsea want Ola Aina

Graeme Bailey �?Chief Correspondent for TBR Football �?has now been told that Chelsea are doing work on a deal to lure the Nottingham Forest No.34 back to west London.

Chelsea offloaded the man born in Southwark to Torino back in June 2019 for a sum of just £8.7m, after he had spent 12 years at Stamford Bridge, joining the academy in 2007 before debuting in 2015.

Nottingham Forest are trying to tie Aina down to a new long-term contract, with his current deal technically expiring this summer, although the Reds have an option to extend it by 12 months, which they will activate.

Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images

TBR Football understand Chelsea have been scouting the 28-year-old closely in recent weeks.

However, sources also stress that Liverpool and Manchester City are interested in Aina, with both sides in the market for a new right-back this summer.

TBR Football are aware Chelsea also want Marc Guehi back �?another former academy star who was offloaded.

“I was knackered so I thought I might as well hit it!�?br>
The science behind Ola Aina’s wonder goal v West Ham 😅
�?Premier League (@premierleague)

Furthermore, there is interest in Aina from the Saudi Pro League, where Michael Emenalo �?Director of the Saudi Pro League and formerly of Chelsea too �?is taking a look.

How Jose Mourinho humiliated Ola Aina at Chelsea in July 2015

Back in the summer of 2015, Chelsea were taken to the United States by Jose Mourinho for a pre-season clash against the New York Red Bulls.

Aina, just 18 at the time, was thrown on at the interval with Chelsea leading 1-0, but endured a nightmare as the Major League Soccer outfit raced into a 2-1 lead within just 25 minutes, prompting the Portuguese coach to substitute the teenager.

Speaking about that moment on The Beautiful Game Podcast, the Nottingham Forest star said: “There was only one time I had a bad experience with him, and I thought, this guy. We went on a pre-season tour, we were playing New York Red Bulls. Second half he said, we’re gonna make a change, Ola, you’re coming on. So I came on, and it just wasn’t clicking on my side�?he subbed me off. I think I played like ten, 15 minutes�?the embarrassment I felt.�?/p>

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Chelsea working on deal to bring back player they sold for £9m who Jose Mourinho once embarrassed

Chelsea want Ola Aina

How Jose Mourinho humiliated Ola Aina at Chelsea in July 2015