Nottingham Forest’s “unbelievable” star may break Johnson’s record sales.

Murillo, who joined Nottingham Forest from Corinthians in the summer, has impressed and is expected to make a big move.

It is no secret that Nottingham Forest has taken a scattergun approach to the transfer market since their promotion back to the top flight ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Since winning the Championship play-offs under then-manager Steve Cooper, the Reds have made an astonishing 34 new signings, with many failing.
Emmanuel Dennis was one of the most expensive, arriving at the City Ground for up to £20 million from Watford. The Nigerian striker made only 25 appearances for Forest in all competitions, scoring twice, before falling behind compatriot Taiwo Awoniyi and returning to Vicarage Road on loan in January.
However, not all of the Reds’ signings since promotion have been disastrous, with Murillo proving to be a wise addition following his summer transfer from Corinthians.
The 21-year-old is the latest in a slew of Brazilians to arrive on Trentside, joining Gustavo Scarpa, Danilo, Felipe, and Renan Lodi in previous transfer windows.

Nottingham Forest paid a high fee for Murillo, who was previously unknown to many fans. However, his performance in the Garibaldi Red has demonstrated his importance to Espírito Santo’s team. Despite competition from fellow Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, Forest won the race to sign the defender, paying £15 million.

Murillo had to wait until his arrival in Nottingham to make an impact on the Forest first-team, with former manager Cooper stating that he wanted to “get the programme right” for the youngster before giving him his Premier League debut.
Murillo eventually made his debut against Brentford on October 1, 2023, five weeks after his arrival. His debut prompted a deserved run of games in the starting lineup, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp hailing the centre-back as a “unbelievable” talent following his Man of the Match performance against Crystal Palace.

Murillo’s current market valuation
Since his impressive first few appearances for the club, the youngster has established himself as a key member of the Reds’ backline, starting every league and cup game since.

Murillo’s exceptional form is demonstrated by his ranking in the top 1% of those in his position in Europe’s top five leagues in terms of successful take-ons per 90 minutes. The Brazilian has impressed with his ability to carry the ball out of the back, allowing for a quick transition from defence to attack. The 21-year-old averages 1.02 progressive carries per game, and his maze run against Crystal Palace was a prime example of his abilities.
Morgan Gibbs-White’s club-record signing for £42.5 million in August 2022 raised eyebrows, but the English youngster has proven to be worth every penny, with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur expressing interest in the former Wolves player.

However, Murillo’s emergence during his brief spell at the City Ground may result in him being sold for more than Gibbs-White in the future due to the scarcity of top-tier young left-sided central defenders.

While his transfer value has only increased from £15 million to £18 million, according to Transfermarkt, the 21-year-old is now Forest’s fifth most valuable player, trailing only Ibrahim Sangare, Danilo, Gibbs-White, and Awoniyi.

If any team wants to lure the Brazilian away from the City Ground in the coming months, it will almost certainly require a bid of more than £50 million, breaking the club’s record sale after Brennan Johnson left for Tottenham in the previous summer window.