Chelsea and Liverpool are front-runners to sign Nottingham Forest defensive mainstay Murillo, amidst interest from Arsenal and Manchester United.
Murillo has only gone from strength to strength since joining Nottingham Forest. He is widely regarded as one of the best young defenders in the Premier League, and the interest in his services is at an all-time high. The Brazilian seems to have decided to make the jump to a bigger club.
The 23-year-old is gearing up to leave the Tricky Trees this summer, and there is no shortage of interest in him. His camp is actively assessing potential destinations, and according to a report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea and Liverpool have emerged as leading candidates to sign the Brazilian defensive sensation.
After coming up the ranks and making a name for himself while playing for Corinthians, Murillo made the move to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023, and he has not looked back since. He has been a consistent performer for them, and it has resulted in a lot of interest.
Chelsea and Liverpool are leading the race
While he did pen a new deal at the start of 2025 and his contract now runs until 2029, the 23-year-old is all set to join a bigger club ahead of next season. Chelsea and Liverpool are favourites to sign the Brazilian international. They have done more groundwork on him than any other club over the last 12 months. Both clubs even considered making an offer last summer.
The Blues have a stacked backline; they have brought back Mamadou Sarr, and Levi Colwill is closing in on a return. Despite that, they are keen on Murillo’s signature, as they are ready to negotiate the departure of Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also firmly in the race. While they did beat Chelsea to Jeremy Jacquet’s signature and Giovanni Leoni will soon regain full fitness, the Reds are looking for more quality at the back amidst uncertainty around Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez’s future.
Manchester United and Arsenal are also in the hunt
While Chelsea and Liverpool are front-runners, Manchester United and Arsenal are also in the mix. Both clubs have scouted him extensively ahead of a potential transfer. The Gunners are yet to finalise their plans regarding Piero Hincapie.
If they decide to use him as a full-back going forward, that would make room for Murillo’s arrival. Meanwhile, Manchester United have a long-standing interest in him, and with Harry Maguire’s future uncertain, they could certainly look at the Brazilian international.
Nottingham Forest are fully aware of Murillo’s desire. While they won’t stand in his way, the Tricky Trees will look to make the most out of a potential transfer. They haven’t set a formal price tag, but the report suggests they will seek more than £50 million to part ways with him.