Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has emerged as the best ball-winner in defensive areas across Europe’s top five leagues, according to statistics from WhoScored.
The 28-year-old full-back seems to have been a standout performer for Forest this season, playing over 2,500 minutes in all competitions and delivering his most impressive campaign yet at the top level.
Nottingham Forest in a report on Tuesday, revealed that Aina has won the ball back in defensive areas 13 times more than any other player, putting Aina top of the list across the continent.
His defensive dominance has been instrumental in Forest’s solid backline, contributing significantly to goalkeeper Matz Sels’ 12 Premier League clean sheets, which is the highest in the division this season.
“The 28-year-old’s defensive prowess has helped Matz Sels to 12 Premier League clean sheets this season, the most in the division, and the joint-most of the full-back’s career to date,” the club noted.
The club added that Aina has also been a key disruptor in opposition attacks, leading the Forest squad with 30 interceptions in 2024/25—a stat that places him joint-26th across the entire Premier League.
