John officially becomes Nottingham Forest's player. The announcement becomes one of the most talked-about soccer transfers in Brazil this year and puts the ex-Botafogo goalkeeper right under the Premier League spotlight. Having survived a drama that saw the collapse of talks with West Ham and Botafogo already on the lookout for his replacement, the goalkeeper arrives in England a Brasileirão and Copa Libertadores champion, but not without the burden of proving that he can still deliver in one of the most demanding leagues in the universe.
The transfer saga and twist of destiny
At the beginning of August, everything was indicating that John was bound for West Ham. The goalkeeper had already signed a deal, Botafogo acted quickly to sign Neto, and fans were already preparing for his exit. But then, as always in the market for transfers, things did not go right. The negotiations stalled, time passed, and less than four weeks later came the shock: West Ham made the approach once again, but in the end, Nottingham Forest got it their way.
The red and white club moved faster, arrived in full strength, and sealed John's signature on the penultimate day of the transfer window. To everyone, it was an unexpected end, but it is a reflection of today's Premier League reality, where a single detail can make or break a player's career.
The burden of arriving as a champion
John is not coming to England as just another Brazilian 'keeper. He left Botafogo after 89 appearances, but more importantly, with best accolades on his resume: the 2024 Brasileirão and Copa Libertadores. Even in a sport rapidly going global, those trophies carry immense symbolic value.
For Forest, a club fighting to stay afloat in the Premier League, it is not simply a matter of introducing technical quality. They are recruiting a player who has an understanding of what it is to play under pressure, to step up to the plate in the big games and win. And that can prove the difference-maker in a league where there is a need week in, week out of nerves of steel.
Sporting director Ross Wilson didn’t hold back when introducing the new keeper: “John caught the eye of many clubs after some impressive seasons in Brazil. He comes here hungry to make an impact and we’re excited to welcome him.”