Nigeria legend John Mikel Obi has heaped praise on Super Eagles defender Ola Aina, commending his impressive performances since returning to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.
Aina signed a one-year contract with Nottingham Forest on July 22, 2023, after spending five seasons with Torino. Due to his impressive performances, the Tricky Trees extended his contract by an additional year.
The 28-year-old has emerged as one of the standout performers for the former European champions, consistently delivering exceptional displays.
Notably, he is among the few players to have featured in every Premier League game for Nottingham Forest this season, as Nuno Espírito Santo’s side currently occupies second place in the league table.
His impressive performances have prompted the Forest hierarchy to return to the negotiation table in a bid to secure him on a long-term deal amid reported interest from Manchester City.
Mikel Obi applauds Ola Aina's Premier League impact
On the Obi One Podcast, Mikel shared high praise for Ola Aina, highlighting his compatriot's remarkable all-round contributions since his return to the Premier League.
“He has had a good season so far. One thing he has added to his game this season is that he’s defending well.
“He is putting in a lot of crosses now and, of course, chipping in a couple of goals as well, which is absolutely fantastic to see.
“Listen, we all knew he was a fantastic player at the club. He has gone to Forest and has been playing well since returning to the Premier League from Italy.”
The Chelsea academy graduate has been ever-present for Forest this season, starting all 19 of their Premier League matches.
Over these games, he has averaged an impressive 87 minutes per match, accumulating a total of 1,646 minutes on the pitch and scoring two goals.
