Nottingham Forest opened negotiations for Feyenoord’s Givairo Read with a €17.5 million bid, and Feyenoord’s response was swift and predictable: no thanks.

The Dutch club values the 20-year-old right-back at north of €30 million, with some reports suggesting Feyenoord could hold out for a total package approaching €40 million.

The price tag arms race for young defenders

Read, born on June 2, 2006, is one of those names that keeps appearing on shortlists at Europe’s biggest clubs. Manchester City and Bayern Munich have both been linked with interest in the past, though Bayern has reportedly stepped away from the pursuit.

His Transfermarkt valuation sat at €25 million as of June 2026. Feyenoord’s asking price, at potentially €40 million for the full package, represents a significant premium over that figure.

With three years still remaining on his contract at Feyenoord, the Dutch side has no urgency to sell.

The rejection of Forest’s opening bid was reported by Fabrizio Romano on July 9, 2026.

Liverpool has also been mentioned among the clubs with interest in Read.

What Forest is really buying

Read has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young defenders while representing the Netherlands at U21 level.

The Premier League spending machine rolls on

The gap between Forest’s bid and Feyenoord’s valuation, roughly €12.5 million to €22.5 million depending on which reported asking price you use, is significant but not unbridgeable. An improved bid is widely expected.