But he only made six Premier League starts as Forest went through four managers and finished 16th in the table last season. In total, he made 24 appearances and contributed two assists but did not score a goal.
Lille finished third in Ligue 1 last season, securing Champions League football for 2026-27.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Leeds - the fans' verdictpublished at 12:42 BST
12:42 BST
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Carabao Cup second-round game between Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.
Here are some of your comments:
Forest fans
Ian: A much worse performance than Saturday's, I'm not sure Liam Delap will solve the problem. Not pretty to watch, no identity, lack of ideas, feels like a rebuild is needed rather than tweaking.
Graham: Nothing positive to come from last night, that was plainly obvious. Wood, Ousmane Diomande, Dan Ndoye, Xaver Schlager and James McAtee are not good enough. Oliver Glasner's tactics don't suit the players. We were too narrow and no bite up front.
David: The smiles have gone and the tactics of passing back, passing back and passing back to Matz Sels, before he boots it to the centre circle where our lone striker is outnumbered and no one else is there to fight for the second ball is simply not good enough.
Andrew: The worst Forest performance in over a year. Clueless players with little idea of what the playing plan should be.
Leeds fans
Bryan: The sleeping giant is starting to wake up. Never get enough credit from the pundits or press. This is great, they are creeping under the radar and will surprise all the experts this season. Will be classed as one of the strongest in defence in the Premier League and once they sign another striker, watch out top six, one of you will be losing your place.
Peter: This Leeds side could be really good with just a couple of quality additions in the forward areas as they are so wasteful. Dan James created so much and the players around him didn't anticipate his crosses.
Ali: Solid performances against Forest, but let's not get carried away. Still light in a number of areas (striker, left-back, winger, goalkeeper and attacking midfield) and these need reinforcing to be productive over a long season.
Alan: Excellent defensive display, the attack needs to sharpen up, James Justin's goal is a great advert to scrap VAR, in the league it would have been disallowed. Yet again, there is a great buzz around the club, but it's early days. Let's not get carried away.
Why has Delap's value increased?published at 10:54 BST
10:54 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Dave: Why is Liam Delap worth £20m more now than one year ago after a dreadful season, is this just down to inflation of fees?
It's a fair point that there may be some inflationary impact on this. However, it will be a small one.
The main reason is that Chelsea's £30m deal to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich last summer was widely regarded as being below market value.
That was due to the relegation release clause in his contract being active last summer, and Delap was arguably a £45m to £50m player at the time.
Some might argue Chelsea received a good fee, given Delap scored only one Premier League goal last season. Again, that is subjective and depends on whether you believe he can rediscover his best form at Nottingham Forest this season.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Leeds: What Glasner saidpublished at 23:09 BST 25 August
23:09 BST 25 August
Media caption,
Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner, speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham: "Tough, tough night. Tough defeat. Of course, a start where we that we wished differently but on the other side and this is what we have to accept. It's the reality where we are right now. If you lose both games against Leeds in three days, we have to accept they were better.
"They are together now two or three years and are adding one or two or three players and this is what we could see. It's much more stability in the team, whereas we were struggling in a few moments today. We made too many mistakes. It was really playing with the pressure, we knew but we took many wrong decisions and gave them the chances."
Forest 'have got a long way to go'published at 22:08 BST 25 August
22:08 BST 25 August
Image source, Getty Images
Former Nottingham Forest defender Brian Laws on BBC Radio 5 Live said: "Nottingham Forest have got a long way to go to get things right here. There's a lot of things not right at the moment, they lack ideas, cohesion and the ability to pass to one another consistently.
"There's a lot of things wrong tonight that Oliver Glasner will not be happy about because that is not good enough. Leeds have come here on two occasions and been comfortable, they haven't had to work hard at it. Forest have to take accountability for that."
You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Birmingham City v Brentford" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Nottingham Forest match", for example.
How did Glasner fare on his Forest managerial debut?published at 16:47 BST 25 August
16:47 BST 25 August
Image source, Getty Images
Premier League history was made before a ball was even kicked this season as a record nine clubs started the campaign with new managers.
Former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner got his first taste of action as Nottingham Forest head coach after succeeding sacked Vitor Pereira.
So how did he fare on an eventful first weekend of the 2026-27 campaign?
A poor start for the Austrian, who brought FA Cup and Europa League success to Crystal Palace, losing 1-0 to a late Leeds United goal at the City Ground.
Glasner claimed he cannot simply lay hands on players and they perform like "Real Madrid in the 70s", but this still was an unsatisfactory opening as he tries to bring stability and success to Nottingham Forest - and their demanding owner Evangelos Marinakis - after four managers were in charge last season.
He had no new signings in his starting line-up, with eight players from Nuno Espirito Santo's team in their opening-day win over Brentford last season featuring, although it looks like striker Liam Delap might arrive from Chelsea.
Every Forest manager needs wins - and very quickly - so to make a losing introduction was a real blow for Glasner.
Scott: Yes, we need a striker. Chris Wood will struggle to play 20 games this season with his knee. Igor Jesus still needs to prove his worth, and so does Arnaud Kalimuendo. But Delap isn't worth £50m. It would have to be less with add-ons until he proves his worth.
Mark: We absolutely need another striker as none of the ones we have are prolific or deadly in front of goal. Unfortunately, Delap also isn't. However, the real issue is that we don't get the ball into the box frequently enough and chances are always at a premium. Wish I had a solution to offer.
Nick: Don't care what number Delap uses, we just need someone who can score. If he can recapture his Ipswich form, he could be a good option. Let's be honest, if he comes and doesn't perform, he's not going to be around for long.
Kris: Honestly, this looks like a panic buy. I'm not impressed with the transfer business again - too slow, too ponderous and overseen by someone else who appears out of his depth. What would Delap add? Goals? Probably not given his record. Disappointing really.
Nicholas: This would be a great move for both parties. His style of play would work well in Forest's system and he would have an opportunity to play more. Wood is getting on, Jesus isn't really a striker and Kalimuendo is still an unknown quantity at this level.
Rob: Yes, Forest need a striker - and others. James McAtee will not replace Elliot Anderson. Wing-back cover is needed with the new formation. We have a glut of wide forwards who probably wouldn't make great cover for the wing-backs.
Spurs explore Williams move but Forest do not want to sell published at 13:14 BST 25 August
13:14 BST 25 August
Sami Mokbel Senior football correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Nottingham Forest are determined to keep full-back Neco Williams this summer amid late interest from Tottenham.
Spurs' interest in the 25-year-old is at an exploratory stage, but sources close to Forest insist the City Ground club will not consider selling the Wales international this summer.
Williams proved a crucial player last season and is expected to play a key role for new manager Oliver Glasner this time around. Forest remain in talks with the former Liverpool defender over a new contract and it is their intention to extend his current deal - which expires in summer 2029 - to reflect his importance to the squad.
Reds boss Glasner has an interest in Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall, which poses a potential discussion point between the two clubs, but Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi has insisted the 20-year-old Sweden international will stay in north London.
Tottenham have sold defender Djed Spence to Inter Milan and are open to signing a replacement - and it is understood De Zerbi would prefer one with Premier League experience.
Like Spence, Williams - who has made over 150 Premier League appearances - can play on both flanks, but is predominantly a left-back.
Spurs have options on the left in Destiny Udogie, Any Robertson and Ben Davies. Udogie is understood to have interest from Italy, while Robertson and Davies are in the latter stages of their careers.
At right-back, Pedro Porro is first choice but there is no direct competition - though Archie Gray can fill in.
As a result, there is a will at Spurs to sign a younger, versatile full-back before the window closes at 23:00 BST on 1 September.
Delap on the radar - do Forest need another goalscorer?published at 08:34 BST 25 August
08:34 BST 25 August
Image source, Getty Images
Nottingham Forest head coach Oliver Glasner said he is "confident" two more players will arrive at the club before the end of the transfer window - and one of those new signings could be Chelsea striker Liam Delap.
Delap is training separately from Xabi Alonso's first-team squad, having only scored two goals and registered four assists in 41 appearances last season.
It is unclear whether the Reds would prefer a permanent transfer or a loan deal but it appears the writing is on the wall for his future at Stamford Bridge, having lost the number nine shirt to Joao Pedro.
His arrival in the East Midlands would provide competition for Chris Wood, Igor Jesus and Arnaud Kalimuendo, following Taiwo Awoniyi's exit to Coventry City.
The club recently announced Wood would wear the number nine shirt this season, with Jesus taking up the vacant number 11 shirt.
Do Forest need another striker in their ranks? Would you be happy with this signing? Would Delap come in as the club's first choice?
Glasner on squad rotation, no 'panic' and Leeds cup tiepublished at 16:21 BST 24 August
16:21 BST 24 August
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Carabao Cup second-round tie against Leeds United at the City Ground (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Ryan Yates and Nicolo Savona remain sidelined, while Morgan Gibbs-White will also miss Tuesday's game with a knock he got in Saturday's opening Premier League defeat by Leeeds.
Glasner said Gibbs-White doesn't have any "structural damage" to his knee, but he is in pain so "it doesn't make sense to play him".
He said "there will be moderate rotation" for the cup tie because they need "fresh legs" to compete against Leeds.
On his previous experience of winning cups: "I always try to create an environment with the correct attitude to make it possible. I'm no magician to make them win anything, but we will play to win the game."
On the learnings from Saturday's loss: "The performance was OK, but not a top performance. We analysed the game and showed the players many clips. I could see many promising signs that we are going in the right direction, but there are, of course, many parts we still need to improve."
He said they "defended set-pieces very well and created a few good opportunities," but Leeds also "defended well and very aggressively".
On Murillo: "He had a very good performance. I probably should have subbed him a little bit earlier because I could feel he was getting fatigued. I asked him a few times during the game, but he wanted to continue playing. I always trust my players. He needs the minutes to be the Murillo everyone knows."
On whether the defeat exposed some areas they need to look into the transfer market for: "It would just be panic if we started judging the players off one game. We know what they are capable of."
He is "confident" that two more players will sign before the end of the transfer window, but he wouldn't say names or what positions they play.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Leeds - the fans' verdictpublished at 12:45 BST 24 August
12:45 BST 24 August
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Leeds.
Here are some of your comments:
Forest fans
Tom: Despite the change of manager, Forest have the same old problems of creating chances and putting them away while always being prone to a defensive blunder. Difficult to watch it play out the way I feared.
Tony: Thought a draw would have been a fair result. But you have to put your chances away. Fair play to Leeds they did just that.
Fosi: I thought team selection shows we are still short of a quality striker! Average display and the late goal was poor. I thought goalkeeper should have stopped it. Short of two or three quality additions!
Chris: Disappointing. We looked toothless and too passive with too much sideways, backwards passing - and some of that didn't always reach a red shirt. Room for improvement - must try harder.
Leeds fans
Kevin: Great start to the season, three points away from home where we got battered last year. A draw on the cards until Stach stepped up with great strike. No lack of endeavour from Leeds but quality lacking. Defence were outstanding and will take some beating this season. Trafford provided some much needed stability at the back.
Shaun: Disciplined at the back, needed to be a bit sharper up front. Overall a good away performance and a valuable three points.
Neil: Doesn't matter about performance yet - win first and work on improvements for the next game. After five games things will have settled down a bit, then we can start looking at performance.
Mark: Solid at the back but work to do on keeping the ball in midfield. Calvert-Lewin was a bit lonely up front. Trafford gave everyone around him confidence and was great with the ball at his feet. Work to be done, but my goodness I'll take that start to the season.
'I think McAtee needs run of games' - Colbackpublished at 12:21 BST 24 August
12:21 BST 24 August
Media caption,
Radio Nottingham's analyst Jack Colback thinks James McAtee needs a run of games in the Forest side.
McAtee was selected for the opener against Leeds but Colback thinks he now needs time to build confidence.
McAtee featured for 74 minutes as Forest suffered a late 1-0 defeat to Leeds, extending Forest's poor opening-day record to six defeats in their last eight league-season openers (W1 D1).
The result also continued their difficult home form, with Forest now winning just one of their last 12 home league matches (D7 L4).
Forest targeting two new signingspublished at 08:49 BST 24 August
08:49 BST 24 August
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Oliver Glasner said after victory in Nottingham Forest's friendly against Brest last Sunday that they were working on "two or three" deals.
Last summer, five of their signings came in the last 12 days, with winger Dilane Bakwa joining on deadline day, and there is time left for reinforcements.
Forest are looking at quality over quantity and moving with precision in the window takes more time, especially in their pursuit of Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall, with the Sweden international now likely to stay in north London.
But Forest need the fresh impetus, the new faces and voices to add to the quality they already possess in Neco Williams and Morgan Gibbs-White in particular.
"I don't expect anyone for Tuesday but two more players, two different positions. The club is working hard to get the deals done and that's it," said Glasner after Saturday's home loss to Leeds United.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke is the third-longest serving Premier League manager after moving to Elland Road in July 2023 and last season's 14th place gives the German the foundation for success this time around.
They can be an example to Forest, who have ambitions to return to Europe having reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last season, of how to build with the same head coach.
Saturday's loss can be a minor setback if there is a quick recovery - starting at home against Leeds again in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
"This [a defeat] always gives me a great feedback, how we deal with this situation," added Glasner. "We do not bury our heads in the sand so we are focusing on what we need to do and what we have done well."
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Leeds: What Glasner saidpublished at 18:25 BST 22 August
18:25 BST 22 August
Media caption,
Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Well, it was the game I expected.
"The one situation that will decide and one set-piece will decide. It was a game with very rare chances. Really disappointed, but this is what we have to expect today.
"It felt like in the second half that we controlled the game better. Moments where they didn't play in our half, we played more in their half.
"At the end, after the throw-in, then two mistakes, a free-kick and anything can happen. We all know how well Stach takes free-kicks."
On Forest's defence: "This was positive. I just think we had a few situations when we played quick and we created some half chances. What we need to improve. Together for a few weeks, but def we are very stable. Still a lot of work to do."
On transfer business: "No, to be honest, I didn't talk to anyone today. We wanted to start with a win. Now we have to deal with a defeat at home. We will face Leeds again here, and we can show we can learn from this game."
Nottingham Forest have lost their opening match of a league season in six of their last eight campaigns (W1 D1), while they've only won one of their last 12 home league matches (D7 L4).
Only Ibrahim Sangaré (10) recorded more line-breaking passes for both sets of players than Murillo (9), while the Brazilian recorded the joint-most in the final third (5).
