Football
Ed Dove, Special to ESPN 6y

El Arbi Hillel Soudani relishing 'dream' Nottingham Forest move

Algeria forward El Arbi Hillel Soudani has described his transfer to Nottingham Forest as a 'dream' move after penning a three-year deal with the Championship side.

The 30-year-old completed a move to the City Ground on Friday, having moved from Dinamo Zagreb for a fee understood to be €3 million according to the Nottingham Post.

He almost sealed a move to England during the January transfer window, but has finally got over the line this summer, and will hope to bring physical presence and a goal threat to the Tricky Trees' attack.

"I've always said, all players in the world dream to play in England. I thank Nottingham Forest for making my dream come true," the international told the club's official website.

"I know it is not easy here and it is tough, but I have confidence in my quality and I will do my best," he added. "I know I can do my best.

"I can't say what kind of player I am, I just give 100 percent every game.

"I do my best, I try to help my teammates and I give everything to make the fans happy - and for my teammates and the manager, because that is important."

Soudani revealed that the presence of former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka in the dugout, and fellow Algeria international Adlene Guedioura in the dressing room, were key to his decision to move to Forest.

"I spoke with [Karanka] a lot of times and he made my decision to come here easier," Soudani continued. "We spoke about the project at the club and his project for the club as well.

"He made my decision to sign here easier."

Soudani, who began his career with ASO Chlef in his homeland, moved to Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal in 2011 before signing for Dinamo in 2013.

He spent five years in Croatia, winning four domestic titles and three Croatian cups, and was top scorer in the First Football League last term - netting 17 goals.

The versatile attacker was part of Algeria's 2017 African Cup of Nations squad - alongside Guedioura - having also featured at the 2014 World Cup and two previous AFCONs.

"I spoke with my friend Adlene before I signed and asked him about the club and everything here," Soudani continued.

"He said very good things about the club and he made me sure that we can do something together here in these years. That's what helped me come to sign here.

"Having Adlene here is very important for me, for my adaptation to the club," the forward concluded, "because I am a new player here and I don't know anybody except Adlene.

"Of course he will make my adaptation easier and I hope it will be like that."

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