Chris Gunter and Paul McKenna have completed their moves to Nottingham Forest from Tottenham and Preston North End, respectively.
Welsh international Gunter has signed a four-year contract at the City Ground for a fee of £1.75million, while experienced midfielder McKenna has penned a three-year deal after the two Clubs agreed a fee of £750,000.
Gunter, a graduate from Cardiff City’s Academy, enjoyed a productive loan spell with Forest at the end of last season.
A host of Championship Clubs – including Newcastle and Ipswich – were reported to have shown interest in Gunter this summer but he insisted a return to Trentside was the only move on his mind.
The 19 year old told the Club’s official website:
“When the Manager told me at the end of last season that he was looking to bring me back to the Club I told him that if he could make it possible I’d love to come back.”
“I wasn’t interested in moving anywhere else. I went away with Wales at the end of last season and came out in the media then and said the only place I wanted to be was Forest.”
“There was never a temptation to look at other clubs who were supposedly interested. I wasn’t sure whether the reports were true or not because I didn’t bother to find out. I was just praying that this move would happen and I’m delighted it has.”
McKenna, who has spent his entire career with North End and knows boss Billy Davies well from his time at the helm of the Deepdale outfit, is relishing the opportunity of a fresh challenge at this stage of his career.
The 31-year-old said:
“It’s a massive change for me but I think it was time for that change. You can get stale being at a Club too long but I’ve had great times there and I’ll look back with fond memories.”
