Nottingham Forest have made Cyrus Christie their ninth signing of the summer. The right-back joins the Reds on a season-long loan deal from Fulham.
Summer Recruitment Continues for Forest With Ninth Summer Signing
Season-Long Loan at Forest for Cyrus Christie
The 27-year-old heads to The City Ground having helped Fulham to the Premier League last season.
Christie, a Republic of Ireland international, started his career with Coventry City – where he made over 100 appearances for the Sky Blues – before signing for Derby County.
The right-back appeared to settle with the Rams, making 119 appearances with two goals and nine assists to his name, before looking for a new start with Middlesbrough.
He joined Boro ahead of the 2017-18 season but made just 26 appearances during half a year at the Riverside – in January 2018 he signed for Fulham for around £3 million.
Having made 28 appearances in the top-flight for Fulham, he helped the London outfit return to the Premier League at the first attempt last season.
Christie joins Forest as their ninth signing of the summer.
Boss Sabri Lamouchi has already added Abdoulaye Diallo, Tyler Blackett, Loic Mbe Soh, Lyle Taylor, Jack Colback, Fouad Bachirou, Miguel Angel Guerrero and Luke Freeman
Four Pegs One Hole as Right-Back Options Compete
The addition of Cyrus Christie comes as a bit of a surprise to Forest fans. With rumours circulating earlier this week, the deal appears to have come out of the blue and been wrapped up rather quickly.
It does, however, raise questions over who will start as a right-back under boss Sabri Lamouchi.
The Forest manager now has four clear options to choose from as Carl Jenkinson, Tendayi Darikwa, Jordan Gabriel and Christie all compete to start.
Jayden Richardson remains on the books at The City Ground, although a loan spell away remains the most likely option.
Following an impressive first start for Gabriel – against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup – Lamouchi had said he would not be on the search for another full-back.
But the Forest chief may see something in Christie that others do not, perhaps he may be utilised as more of a rotation option ahead of the sometimes unreliable Jenkinson and Darikwa as he returns from injury.
It could also be beneficial to have the 27-year-old given his versatility across the back-line.
While he has played the vast majority of his matches as a right-back, 282 to be precise, he has also played a handful of matches as a centre-back, left-back and even a right midfielder.
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