Nottingham Forest have officially secured the signing of Brazilian goalkeeper John Victor from Botafogo. The goalkeeper has committed to a three-year contract with the Premier League side, in a transfer valued around £10 million.
This acquisition marks a strategic reinforcement of the Forest roster, following a series of summer additions from the Brazilian club Botafogo. John Victor joins fellow compatriots Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus—both also recruited earlier in July—and adds to a growing contingent of South American talent assembled under owner Evangelos Marinakis, with ties to former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor’s network.
John Victor’s arrival carries extra weight in the wake of a near move to West Ham United, which ultimately fell through. Interest had been heavily rekindled in the goalkeeper earlier in the summer, but Forest ultimately clinched the deal with a four-year agreement—though club sources now describe it officially as a three-year contract.
Born in Diadema, São Paulo, Victor began his journey in football within the youth ranks of Santos FC, joining the club in 2011 at the age of 15 after an initial spell at São Paulo FC. By 2016, he had earned promotion to the senior squad—initially as a third-choice goalkeeper—and made his unofficial debut in a friendly against Benfica.
His early career was marked by sporadic opportunities in the first team, interrupted by injuries, notably a knee injury that hindered his progress in 2021. In 2022, he largely served as a backup keeper, featuring in only two matches for Santos.
A loan move to Internacional in 2023 offered more exposure, though the real turning point came later that year when he joined Real Valladolid in Spain’s Segunda División, on a one-year loan stint in pursuit of consistent game time.
In January 2024, Botafogo signed John Victor on a permanent basis, completing the transfer for approximately €1.5 million for 85% of his federative rights.
His arrival coincided with a breakthrough period: he helped the club secure the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A title, stood out in the Copa Libertadores and the Club World Cup—where he notably kept a clean sheet in a win against Paris Saint-Germain—and earned individual accolades such as “Best Goalkeeper of the Brasileiro” and inclusion in the Libertadores Team of the Season.
Earlier in August, Victor was linked heavily with West Ham United. Reports suggested the Hammers were pushing to land him, eyeing a loan move with an option to buy after their own new signing, Mads Hermansen, struggled in early-season appearances.
However, West Ham’s eventual decision to pivot to Hermansen—coupled with a last-minute withdrawal from the deal—left John Victor “jilted,” with tabloid outlets even describing him as being stranded at the airport. Nonetheless, his commitment to playing in the Premier League remained undeterred.
Simultaneously, Manchester United were reported to be monitoring his progress following impressive performances in the Club World Cup, including a clean sheet against PSG. A release clause of around £6 million was cited, though United ultimately did not pursue a transfer before their pre-season tour.
Nottingham Forest have invested massively in this transfer window, reinforcing multiple positions on the pitch. Alongside John Victor, the club has signed Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus from Botafogo, Omari Hutchinson, Dan Ndoye, Nicolò Savona, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Angus Gunn, James McAtee, and more.
Another high-profile Brazilian, Douglas Luiz, was brought in last week on a season-long loan from Juventus, with an obligation to make the move permanent next summer.