Nottingham Forest agree £22m deal for Crystal Palace defender Muñoz
Daniel Muñoz
The Colombian right-back is set to undergo a medical today before signing a three-year contract at the City Ground
By Pascal Okoth
Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal worth £22 million plus add-ons to sign Colombian right-back Daniel Muñoz from Crystal Palace, with the 30-year-old expected to complete his medical today before putting pen to paper on a three-year contract.
The agreement, understood to be fully in place between the two clubs, represents one of Forest’s most significant pieces of business ahead of the new season and signals the club’s continued ambition to strengthen with proven Premier League talent. An option is included in the contract, giving Forest flexibility over Muñoz’s future beyond the initial three-year term.
Muñoz has been one of the more quietly impressive full-backs in the Premier League since his arrival at Crystal Palace, building a reputation as an energetic, attack-minded defender whose contribution extends well beyond his defensive duties. His pace, physicality and ability to arrive in dangerous areas have made him a consistent threat going forward, while his defensive aggression and positional discipline have ensured he remains a reliable option at the back. He has carried that form into international football, becoming a trusted figure in the Colombia national team and demonstrating that his qualities hold up at the highest levels of the game.
For Forest, the appeal is clear. The right-back position has been identified as an area requiring reinforcement, and in Muñoz they are acquiring someone who arrives not as a project but as a ready-made contributor — a player familiar with the Premier League’s demands and capable of slotting into the team’s structure from the outset. His attacking output in particular could prove valuable for a side that, under head coach Nuno Espírito Santo, has shown a willingness to use its full-backs as genuine weapons in the final third.
The £22 million fee reflects both the quality Forest believe they are acquiring and the competitive nature of the market for established Premier League defenders. Crystal Palace, for their part, will have mixed feelings about the departure. Muñoz became a popular figure at Selhurst Park, and his energy and commitment earned him genuine affection among the club’s supporters. His exit creates a gap that Palace will need to address before the window closes.
The financial commitment from Forest is also a continuation of a transfer strategy built around intent and clarity. Rather than chasing speculative targets, the club have consistently pursued players whose Premier League credentials are already established — individuals who understand the rhythms of the English game and can contribute immediately without an extended settling-in period. Muñoz fits that profile precisely.
Assuming today’s medical raises no concerns, the formalities will be completed swiftly and Forest will have their man in place well ahead of the season’s early demands. For Muñoz, the move represents a fresh challenge at a club with genuine ambition, a passionate support base and a stadium that has produced some of English football’s most atmospheric occasions. The City Ground will be a new home, but the competition — and the expectation — will be familiar.
At 30, Muñoz is entering what many would consider the prime years for a defender — experienced enough to read the game with composure, fit enough to sustain the physical intensity the role demands, and motivated enough to prove himself at a club pushing for a place among the Premier League’s established forces. The three-year contract gives him the security to commit fully and the time to build something meaningful.
For Forest supporters watching the summer’s business take shape, Muñoz’s arrival will be read as a statement — evidence that the club’s leadership is serious about building a squad capable of competing across a full season rather than simply surviving one. The right-back position, often undervalued in public debate about squad construction but critical in practice, will now be occupied by a player who has shown he can handle Premier League football at a consistent level.
The paperwork is all but done. The medical awaits. And barring any unexpected complications, Daniel Muñoz will become a Nottingham Forest player before the week is out.
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Benzema cuts ties with Al Hilal as retirement looms
- Kenya’s forests hold the pharmacy Africa has always known
- The man Minet chose to lead East Africa
- Mental health is not a luxury — it is a national priority
- The two mothers who cursed a kingdom
About the Author
