Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has has written his name in the books as one of Europe’s most formidable defensive players, leading all defenders in ball recoveries in his own half across the top five leagues, according to WhoScored.
Aina has been a pivotal figure for Forest this season, accumulating over 2,500 minutes on the pitch and showcasing his best-ever form at the elite level.
The 28-year-old full-back defensive capabilities have played a significant role in Forest’s resilience at the back, making them one of the hardest teams to break down.
“Aina has won the ball back in defensive areas a full 13 times more than any other player, putting him atop the list across the continent,” the club confirmed in a report on Tuesday.
This defensive dominance has translated into tangible success for Forest, particularly in helping goalkeeper Matz Sels secure 12 clean sheets—the highest in the Premier League this season and the joint-most of Aina’s career.
“The 28-year-old’s defensive prowess has helped Matz Sels to 12 Premier League clean sheets this season, the most in the division, and the joint-most of the full-back’s career to date,” the club noted.
Aside from his elite ball-winning ability, Aina has also been instrumental in disrupting opposition play. His 30 interceptions in the 2024/25 campaign are the highest among Forest players and rank him joint-26th in the entire league.
“In addition, the 28-year-old had made 30 interceptions in 2024/25, the most in the Forest squad and the joint-26th most across the Premier League,” the club added.
Aina’s influence was particularly crucial in Forest’s recent 1-0 victory over Manchester City, where his perfectly timed tackle on Omar Marmoush led to the game-winning goal.
“Indeed, his tackle on Omar Marmoush against Manchester City on Saturday put the ball back in the Reds’ possession to go and net the winner against the champions,” the club continued.
Matched up against City’s Jérémy Doku, Ola Aina delivered a defensive masterclass—winning four ground duels, making three clearances (two of them headed), and recovering possession on four occasions.
“On Saturday, Aina won four ground duels against Jérémy Doku, who he lined up against from the start at The City Ground, making three clearances, two-headed clearances, and four-ball recoveries against City,” the club revealed.
With his outstanding performances anchoring Forest’s defense, Ola Aina continues to demonstrate why he is among Europe’s elite full-backs, and is expected to prove this in the national team after being called up for Nigeria’s upcoming world cup qualifying games later this month.
