If a recent report from the Daily Mail is believed to be true, Chelsea received a boost in pursuit of their long-term transfer target Murillo. The Nottingham Forest centre-back is open to exploring ne...
If a recent report from the Daily Mail is believed to be true, Chelsea received a boost in pursuit of their long-term transfer target Murillo. The Nottingham Forest centre-back is open to exploring new opportunities, and his availability could see the Blues reignite interest and rival Real Madrid to secure his services.
The 23-year-old Brazil international flourished through the ranks of São Caetano, ECUS, São Bernardo, and União Barbarense back in his homeland before joining the esteemed academy of Corinthians. There, he made strides with the first team, which earned the attention of several European heavyweights, including Napoli, Manchester City and West Ham United.
However, Forest won the race for the Selecao ace, snapping him up for a fee of around €12m (plus €3m add-ons) in the summer of 2023. Soon, he became a regular under Steve Cooper and continued to flourish following Nuno Espirito Santo’s arrival. His towering presence at the back not only helped the Tricky Trees escape relegation but also witnessed a massive rise in the following season. They finished 7th in the Premier League standings and, therefore, secured European football by qualifying for the UEFA Europa Conference League.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 22: Murillo of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield on November 22, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Murillo previously admitted that he dreams of playing in the Champions League, but chose to turn down an offer from Chelsea to develop at City Ground.
“I don’t know if it’s £70m, but I know there was a buzz of interest. I had the dream of playing in the Premier League, and I had that thought. I thought I’d go to Nottingham Forest, have a good year and then I’d go to a big club. I had that in my head.”
He told the Benja Me Mucho podcast a year ago.
Forest are going through turmoil so far this term, which began with a heated exchange of words between Nuno and Evangelos Marinakis, the club owner, towards the end of the previous campaign. The fallout eventually led to the Portuguese’s dismissal in September, and the decision to hire Ange Postecoglou failed miserably, resulting in another sacking just over a month later.
Sean Dyche, their current boss, is trying hard to steady the ship, but the West Bridgford side are heading towards another relegation battle, thus ruining all the good work done by Nuno and his backroom staff throughout the 2024-25 season.
Why Chelsea Must Return For The Towering Centre-half
Chelsea, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency under Enzo Maresca. They have performed exquisitely against the big guns, but dropped crucial points against the strugglers like Leeds United and Bournemouth. Despite having plenty of options in the heart of the backline, Levi Colwill’s injury absence has made them vulnerable, with Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah failing to step in and deliver week in and week out. Teenage duo Jorrel Hato and Josh Acheampong have yet to attune to the grind and demands of the Premier League football, whereas Wesley Fofana’s persistent fitness woes remain a major concern.
Although Forest won’t let him leave before summer and will only entertain bids that are far higher than the current club-record sale of Anthony Elanga, who joined Newcastle United for £55m, Murillo has proved his worth in the English game, exhibiting his physical and aerial supremacy in deep defence. He has also been a threat from the set-pieces, and a move to Stamford Bridge would benefit both the Blues and the player in terms of meeting their respective ambitions and objectives.
Category: General Sports
