NOTTINGHAM Forest last night secured their second signing in the space of 24 hours, as Jamie Mackie completed a £1m move to the City Ground.
The striker or winger was initially expected to arrive in the city today to complete a medical, but the deal was pushed through late last night.
The 27-year-old has signed a three year contract with the Reds, to become the second signing of the day following the earlier capture of Djamel Abdoun from Olympiakos.
Forest had an initial bid for the striker rejected yesterday morning, but returned with an improved offer that persuaded their newly-relegated Championship rivals to do business.
It was a significant moment for Reds boss Billy Davies, who had tried to sign Mackie during his first spell in charge at the City Ground, when Mackie was a Plymouth player.
Mackie submitted an official transfer request at Loftus Road yesterday to help smooth a path for the deal, after finding himself a peripheral figure under Harry Redknapp.
The signing of Mackie leaves the Reds with a host of options down the flanks – an area the manager had previously highlighted as being a problem within weeks of his return to the club last season.
Having already signed Jamie Paterson from Walsall earlier in the summer, Forest yesterday also completed the capture of Abdoun, in a 2m euro move from Olympiakos.
The 27-year-old has penned a three-year deal at the club and has immediately set his sights on winning promotion.
"At Olympiakos I played in the Champions League," he said. "But Nottingham Forest have already won two European Cups and with the size of the club, we should be playing in the Premier League.
"The objective is to get promotion because the city and the football club should be in the Premier League. That is the aim for the players, the chairman, the manager and the supporters and we will be working really hard to deliver it. I am very happy to sign for this historic club and it is a big opportunity for me to prove my ability."
Forest still retain an interest in Burnley's Charlie Austin, but will face opposition from QPR following their failure to land Celtic striker Gary Hooper, who is bound for Norwich.
• In profile: Forest signing Jamie Mackie
