Nottingham Forest striker Sam Surridge close to joining Nashville SC after clubs agree £5m fee

Sam Surridge, the Nottingham Forest striker, is close to joining Nashville SC after the two clubs agreed a fee in the region of £5million.

Surridge, a key player in Forest’s promotion season, has been the subject of strong interest from a number of Championship clubs but decided that he wants to play in MLS as the next stage of his career.

The 24-year-old, who has only one year left on his contract, established himself as a crowd favourite at the City Ground after signing from Swansea City for a reported £2.2million in January last year and helping his new club reach the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25: Sam Surridge of Nottingham Forest celebrates after scoring a goal which was later disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee during the Carabao Cup Semi Final 1st Leg match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at City Ground on January 25, 2023 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Surridge’s total of seven goals in the second half of that season came from five starts and 12 substitute appearances, culminating in Steve Cooper’s team beating Huddersfield in the play-off final

.Last season, however, he was used more sparingly and it gradually became apparent that he ought to look for a new challenge in the summer. Surridge, whose career also includes spells at Stoke City and Bournemouth, had options to remain in England but is understood to have decided he would prefer a fresh start in a new country.