Nottingham Forest transfer clause which hinges on Premier League promotion emerges

Nottingham Forest would reportedly have to pay a cash sum to Aberdeen should they secure promotion to the Premier League.

The Reds booked their place at Wembley with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Sheffield United on Tuesday night. And now they are 90 minutes away from ending their 23-year top-flight exile, with Huddersfield Town standing in their way.

Should Steve Cooper’s side prevail a week on Sunday, AberdeenLive claim Forest would have to pay Aberdeen around £1m, as part of the deal which took Scott McKenna to the City Ground. The 25-year-old left the Scottish club in September 2020, penning a four-year deal.

McKenna has proved to be a terrific addition since then. And he has been key to the Reds’ ascent up the table this season.

The Scot has made 50 appearances so far this season, forming a formidable back line with Joe Worrall and Steve Cook since the latter arrived in January - with Tobias Figueiredo also playing a significant role, stepping in when Cook has been absent. With goalkeeper Brice Samba behind them, the defence has been a solid foundation for Forest to build upon.

It was Samba who was the star in the second leg of the play-offs semi-final against the Blades on Tuesday. The shot-stopper was the Reds’ hero on a dramatic night.

Leading 2-1 from Saturday’s first leg at Bramall Lane, Cooper’s men took the lead through Brennan Johnson to stretch their aggregate advantage to 3-1. United hit back, though, and made it 3-3 on aggregate, taking the tie to extra-time.

There was no breakthrough in the additional 30 minutes, forcing a penalty shootout. Samba saved spot-kicks from Oliver Norwood, Conor Hourihane and Morgan Gibbs-White to send Forest through to the final.