Nottingham Forest secure Shania Hayles on one-year deal

Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of forward Shania Hayles on a free transfer from Newcastle United, the club confirmed via an official press release this morning. The 26-year-old has agreed to a one-year contract at The City Ground, marking her arrival as the club’s sixth signing of the current summer transfer window.

Hayles leaves Newcastle United after a two-year stint in which she made 44 appearances across all competitions and scored 20 goals. Her departure comes earlier this summer, allowing her to join the Tricky Trees as they look to bolster their squad for the upcoming season.

The forward brings significant experience to the squad, having accumulated close to 200 professional appearances throughout her career. Her senior career began at Birmingham City before she moved to Aston Villa, where she helped secure promotion to the Barclays Women’s Super League. She subsequently repeated that achievement with Bristol City, establishing a track record of contributing to successful campaigns.

Speaking after sealing her move, Hayles expressed enthusiasm about returning to the area and joining a club with established credentials. She described herself as “buzzing” to be back home and highlighted the club’s history and ambition for promotion as primary factors in her decision.

“I’m excited to meet the fans and to play in front of them at The City Ground,” Hayles said. “This is a massive Club with a lot of history and there is a lot of ambition to get promotion. I want to get started, to enjoy my football, score goals, and I believe this is the environment for me to do that.”

The signing underscores Forest’s active approach in the transfer market this summer. By securing a player with a proven goal-scoring record and a history of promotion success, the club aims to strengthen its position as it pursues its objectives for the season ahead.