Michael Kenrick 29/08/2026 61comments  |  Jump to last

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Emboldened by the injection of a massive £115M fee for Elliot Anderson when Nottingham Forest sold their midfield star to Manchester City, David Ornstein of The Athletic claims that Forest are 'working on a deal' to sign Harrison Armstrong for £40M plus a sell-on clause.

If true, it could represent a massive test of how The Friedkin Group view team building over the possibility for a huge financial win, selling a prodigious midfield talent for a quick and substantial profit, since he cost Everton next to nothing  having graduated through the Academy.

For the player himself, however, he must know that, once Hayden Hackney, Christian Norgaard and even Tim Iroegbunam are fit, David Moyes will automatically place each one of them ahead of him based purely on experience when it comes to critical team selections. 

His pathway to becoming a solid first choice in Everton's midfield is strewn with roadblocks of the club's own making, which could of itself be a rationale for the player to move to pastures new that would surely almost guarantee a first-team place at such a critical juncture in his development.  

 

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Dave Abrahams
1 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:00:55
Harrison Armstrong going to Forest for £40M, with Everton getting a % of any future deals when Harrison is sold!

If true, then our owners do what they want when they want. It is also reported that Armstrong is not likely to be part of Everton’s squad today.
Rob Jones
2 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:01:44
If they sell Armstrong, on top of all the other fuckery this window, I might actually be done with Everton.
John Collins
3 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:02:52
Best midfielder at the club for me.

If this is true, that's me done.
Rob Jones
4 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:10:49
I'm genuinely gutted. What are we even doing as a club?

No heart, no soul... manager's a fucking dinosaur, the fanbase I'm growing to despise, the CEO is a fucking charlatan, we see Moshiri more than the fucking owners, and we're seemingly selling our future to accommodate old men.
Steve Brown
5 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:13:09
The shit will hit the fan if this deal goes through.
Rob Jones
6 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:15:33
If true, is this from Moyes (who said openly Armstrong wouldn't even have been on the pitch had the senior players been available), or Kinnear?
Kevin Molloy
7 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:19:16
As if Moyes is wanting to sell Armstrong.

This is the arseholes in charge. This is what he’s working with.
Kunal Desai
8 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:21:34
I can't see this happening. He'll develop over the next two seasons into a fine player with us and will move on to a much bigger club than Forest for well over £100M+.

From a business perspective, this would make absolutely no sense... particularly when you know this investment will be well over double in two season's time.
Steve Brown
9 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:23:51
Hopefully just his agent pushing Everton for a bumper new deal.

As Kunal says, he could be worth £100M in a few seasons.
John Collins
10 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:30:24
Kevin,

In a fully fit squad, do you think Moyes would have Armstrong in his starting 11?
John Cook
11 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:32:30
Latest rumour: we are selling Armstrong for £40M to Forest.

If there is any truth in this, then personally I would be finished with this club after 63 years.

Kevin Molloy
12 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:36:48
In a fully fit squad, I reckon he’d get about 15-20 starts this season, John.
Rocco Bugaj
13 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:39:42
Losing Armstrong would be a bitter blow. The lad is already outstanding and still has a lot of potential.

If Armstrong and Ndiaye are sold, we’ll know what the owners have in mind for our club.
John Collins
14 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:40:06
Despite Moyes's indication that (paraphrase) he's only playing due to injury, Kevin?

"Moyes suggested that Armstrong would not perhaps have been playing as much if Everton had a full complement of midfielders available, with James Garner only fit enough for the bench and Christian Nørgaard and Tim Iroegbunam out injured."
Ian Wilkins
15 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:41:59
If we sell Armstrong for a £40M package, a future star, potentially England star — selling our best potential — and at a time when average players are moving for ridiculous fees, then we have a real problem.

We are either desperate financially... are we? Shouldn't be...

Or the owners have zero ambition for our club and we all need to call it a day. Ndiaye, Armstrong, being considered for sale… we're supposed to be improving not going backwards.
Kevin Molloy
16 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:42:02
Well he's not wrong, is he?

Unless we're going to play him consistently ahead of Garner or Norgaard.
John Collins
17 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:47:25
You said he would play more than half of the games 5 minutes ago Kevin.

Who drops out?
Kevin Molloy
18 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:48:43
Are you assuming everyone stays fit all season in centre mid? Why would you do that?
Brian Harrison
19 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:50:44
As usual the nearer we get to the transfer window closing the more ridiculous the claims.

I don't believe there is any truth in this Armstrong claim, I believe he is going to be a top player so why would you sell him now when in 2 years he could be worth £100M?

The one thing we know about TFG is they want to invest in young players -- not sell them before they reach their potential.
John Collins
20 Posted 29/08/2026 at 10:57:19
I'm assuming you stated he would start more than half the games?

Let's do a bit more assuming and imagine a scenario with no serious injuries to midfielders... Again, who drops out?
Liam Mogan
21 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:01:37
This has come so far out of left field that it feels like a punch in the stomach.

Everton, for fuck's sake...
Scott Hamilton
22 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:12:55
I fucking hope not!!!
Rocco Bugaj
23 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:14:12
Armstrong could be our future!

I wouldn't even entertain the idea of ​​selling him. And £40M?! What is Forest thinking?
Kevin Naylor
24 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:14:38
Harrison is our modern day Martin Dobson who was pure class. Might as well pack in football if this happens.
Kevin Molloy
25 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:17:54
Where did I say he'd start more than half the games?
John Cook
26 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:18:15
If there is any truth in this, then I will be finished with this club after 63 years of support.

In my opinion, selling Armstrong would be worse than when we sold Rooney, as circumstances changed. Also, Rooney went to a much better club at the time.

Are we that bad financially that we have to sell Armstrong? If so, we might as well wrap the club up now. If true, cuee mass demos and resignations over this.

Nil satis nisi optimum — my arse.
Andrew Ellams
27 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:19:49
Anybody mising Moshiri yet?
John Collins
28 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:19:58
Post #12, Kevin.
Ian Wilkins
29 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:22:04
Aside from an insulting offer for a young rising star ( Anderson just moved for £120M), Norgaard is over 30 and not fit; Iroegbunam is up for sale... Armstrong is not way down the pecking order any longer.

We shouldn't be selling our best players. We should be improving our squad -- not weakening it. I don't mind Aznou going on loan, he needs to play, but there must be another left back option. Who is that...?
Danny James
30 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:23:29
No, we will not be selling him to Forest
Pete Hughes
31 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:24:26
I can't see this happening, tbh.

I can see Moyes walking if it does though?

Future Everton and England captain, no way!!!
Garry Martin
32 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:25:04
I suspect the 'penny counters' are running the show and profit is king.

I also suspect Moyes, in the past, would see Armstrong as the future and he has learnt over the years that you have to obey the money men.
Terry Downes
33 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:25:36
Well, it's certainly stopped the fans worrying over who we're signing!
Raymond Fox
34 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:26:00
We wont sell Armstrong, but you can bet your bottom pound that the usual merchants will have him in their sights for the future.

I think the Ndiaye, Grealish shenanigans will happen though, if they can sort out Grealish's contract.
Nicolas Piñon
35 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:26:37
£100M — minimum!!
Jim Bennings
36 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:27:19
If it did happen, it would just tell me that we are fucking skint!
Kevin Molloy
37 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:27:43
If this has been covered by Joyce and Ornstein, Raymond... I wouldn't be so sure if I were you.
James Fletcher
38 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:28:06
If he plays today, then I think Harrison has secured himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

Why the fuck would we sell, let alone sell at a massive discount?
Kevin Molloy
39 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:34:45
However did Declan Rice play under Moyes?

He must have known Moyes never picks young players under any circumstances... what was he thinking?
Alan McGuffog
40 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:36:36
Why not go the whole hog and let him go to the Reds for £25M?
Alan Corken
41 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:38:36
Jake and Harrison, apparently pushing for a move, paired with Moyes downbeat comments (like the warm up act for the lutine bell), it gives a worrying impression that all is not well behind the scenes
Andrew Ellams
42 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:38:42
There's a lot of people thinking this won't happen because they don't want it to.

When it's a couple of days before the end of the window and both Ornstein and The Bobble are reporting on it, then you can be sure talks are at least happening.
Paul Clements
44 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:39:27
To Forest? Are you having a laugh??? He was at a bigger club with Preston.

£40M + Gibbs White -- or tell their fat low-life owner to do one.
Gavin Johnson
45 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:45:03
I would rather we sell Ndiaye over Armstrong. He would be one of the last players we should sell.
Andrew Merrick
46 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:45:41
I'm speechless.
Steve Brown
47 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:45:48
If Harrison is not in the squad, he is gone.

Aznou on loan to Malaga.
Rob Jones
48 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:46:41
Looks like he's gone.
Mike Doyle
49 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:47:22
I concur with Raymond (27) and Jim (29).

Also agree with Kevin (19) that Harrison resembles a young Martin Dobson. If he went on to resemble the mature Martin Dobson, we'd be delighted.
Andrew Clare
50 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:48:45
If a club starts selling its best players it becomes quite clear that they are completely out of the picture as far as challenging for trophies is concerned.

I'm beginning to realise that I have been completely deluded for a long time now regarding Everton winning anything.
Kevin Molloy
51 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:52:13
Ornstein on TNT says it's going through and he's not in the squad, apparently.
Andrew Merrick
52 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:55:18
Fecking outraged...

The kid's a winner through and through.
Kevin Naylor
53 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:55:51
Everyone should boycott the next home game if true.
Lee Courtliff
54 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:56:09
I'm not as convinced by this lad as most seem to be; to me, he looks like a promising young player who could develop. I don't want to sell him, I want us to keep him and see him grow into a fine player.

But, I seem to remember quite a few being outraged that we sold Rodwell (who I never rated); yet, after a couple of years, it became apparent that we'd had City's pants down!

That could easily happen again with this lad, you just don't know... Wayne Rooney or Michael Branch? The only thing that would really bother me is if we don't reinvest the money wisely.

And not on some 'old, experienced' player.
Raymond Fox
55 Posted 29/08/2026 at 11:59:21
If we do sell, I think the owners are taking the piss. I can't see Moyes wanting to sell him, he better than most will know that that us fans will be jumping mad.

If it is true we can forget any ambition we might be clinging to.
Steve Brown
56 Posted 29/08/2026 at 12:03:11
TFG and Moyes on short notice now.

A couple of bad results and this will turn nasty.
Kevin Naylor
57 Posted 29/08/2026 at 12:06:19
Imagine if the RS sold their young lad Rio to say Crystal Palace, can you imagine the reaction.
Dean Johnson
58 Posted 29/08/2026 at 12:07:51
Sounds like a wind up to me.

If true then it would validate where friedkins see Everton in their thinking.

Just go to their website - Roma is easy to reach, loud and proud, Everton are buried within the menus.

Says it all
Ian Burns
59 Posted 29/08/2026 at 12:09:02
This Armstrong move is gathering pace and if this boy is sold, I am done once and for all. My first game was in 1960 and for me only the sale of Alan Ball would surpass this sale as the worst piece of business I will have witnessed.

If this goes through the club should hang its collective heads in shame!
Ian Wilkins
61 Posted 29/08/2026 at 12:11:22
It feels like we have to sell for some reason, why else are we doing this?
We’re not falling foul of SCR, constrained a little yes, but not breaking limits.
Is it about cash, need to pay Burnley, forthcoming Dividends to selves..?
Mystifying, but if we’re doing this sort of thing then we’ll never see Everton in Europe or competing for trophies with current Owners.
Colin Glassar
62 Posted 29/08/2026 at 12:12:19
I don’t usually come on here but, if we sell Armstrong I hope we get fucking relegated and, eventually, fold. This fucking club has ripped the heart out of me. First Bally, then Rooney now the best young prospect we’ve had in years. And to fucking scabs like Nottingham?
Rob Jones
63 Posted 29/08/2026 at 12:13:27
Colin, I'm right on the border of that myself.

After the past few years, it's hard to get that angry because you're just fucking numb. This has been a kick in the nuts, though.

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