Lingard deal done

Jesse Lingard is a Nottingham Forest player.

The attacking midfielder has finally brought the saga to an end by signing for the newly-promoted club.

Lingard has confirmed the deal on his social media, posting a video on Twitter in which he is wearing a Forest scarf.

He wrote: “Ready for my new chapter. Let’s go baby!”

The England international is reported to have signed a one-year contract with the City Ground club and will aim to play a key role in keeping them in the Premier Division.

It marks the third time that Lingard has turned down the Hammers, rejecting the chance to move the summer after his loan move, the following January, and now this summer.

It remains to be seen if boss David Moyes will now shift his focus to another target, with Blackburn’s Ben Brereton Diaz the most likely candidate.

At the very least, we can now call a halt to the Lingard reporting; he’s a Nottingham Forest player now.