- Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo has ranked Nottingham Forest's Ola Aina among the toughest defenders he has faced in the Premier League this season
- The Ghanaian forward also named Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie as formidable opponents
- Aina’s defensive work has helped goalkeeper Matz Sels secure 12 Premier League clean sheets, the highest in the division this season
Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina is steadily building a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most formidable defenders, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Ghanaian international Antoine Semenyo recently acknowledged Aina’s defensive strength, naming him among the toughest defenders he has faced this season alongside Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Tottenham Hotspur’s Destiny Udogie.
Speaking in an interview, the AFC Bournemouth forward praised the trio for making life difficult for attackers in the English top flight.
Semenyo, who has been in impressive form for the Cherries this season, emphasised that Aina’s defensive ability made him a standout opponent,
"Van Dijk was tough when we played Liverpool home and away. Udogie as well. He is a tough player to come up against. Ola Aina is also up there. I think those three," Semenyo revealed.
Aina’s inclusion on this list comes as no surprise, given his stellar performances for Nottingham Forest.
The 28-year-old has established himself as one of the most effective defensive ball-winners across Europe’s top five leagues. WhoScored recently ranked him as the leading defender in Europe in terms of ball recoveries in defensive areas, surpassing every other player on the continent.
The Nigerian full-back has been a key figure in Nottingham Forest’s backline, playing over 2,500 minutes in all competitions this season. His defensive contributions have been crucial to goalkeeper Matz Sels’ 12 clean sheets, the highest in the Premier League this season and the joint-most in Aina’s career.
Aina has also been a major disruptor in opposition attacks, leading Forest in interceptions (30) this season, placing him joint-26th in the league. His defensive resilience was particularly evident in Forest’s 1-0 victory over Manchester City, where his crucial tackle was significant in setting up the match-winning goal.
With performances like these, Aina has firmly established himself as one of the league’s most dominant defenders, earning recognition from both teammates and opponents alike.
“I’m just happy I got one today,” Nigeria’s Aina elated after helping Forest beat Brentford
Previously, TheRadar reported that Nigerian defender Ola Aina shone once again as his early strike set Nottingham Forest on course for a stunning 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday, December 21.
The win marked Forest’s third consecutive victory, pushing them momentarily to fourth place in the Premier League table, just two points below Arsenal.
