Morgan Gibbs-White has revealed that complications with the pregnancy of his fiancé played a crucial role in his decision to reject a move to Tottenham and to bind his future to Nottingham Forest.
The 25-year-old midfielder was in the middle of one of the most dramatic transfersagas of the summer, convinced with Spurs that they had activated his £ 60 million release clause in July.
A medical was even planned, only for the deal to collapse after Forest threatened to report to the Premier League about what they thought as an illegal approach.
Forest opposed several approaches of Spurs-inclusive a second bid above the £ 60m clause-voordat Gibbs-White performed a dramatic U-turn and signed a new three-year deal until 2028, described by the club as a 'intent statement' by owner Evangelos Marinakis.
In conversation with Talksport, Gibbs-White explained that the decision went much further than football. His partner, Britney De Villiers, recently gave birth to their second child after a difficult pregnancy.
“Every football player has personal goals and personal ambitions they want to achieve,” said Gibbs-White. 'Mine wins trophies, plays in the World Cup, plays in the euros, plays Champions League football, just to achieve the maximum that I can achieve.
'It is clear that everyone in the summer has seen what was going on and whatever. But it was a very difficult period for me and my fiancé.
'Getting my second child, but there were a few complications with that. I believed to be professional, to appear every day and let everything else take care of what it should do. I am firmly convinced that everything happens for a reason.
'I am happy with my decision, more than happy. I think my fiancé is even happier because she couldn't continue with all the stress. '
Gibbs-White missed the start of the pre-season training camp for the season in Portugal to be with his partner, who described her experience as a 'risky pregnancy' on social media from a hospital bed.
He returned to action on July 14 and played in several friendly matches before he opened the new campaign with 84 minutes in the 3-1 victory of Forest on Brentford.
The International of England, who has won four caps, insists that his heart has now been agreed to continue his journey with Bos after he has helped the club to be eligible for Europe last season.
“With everything that happened this summer, it was like it was a bit at home,” he went on. 'I have experienced a lot with this club for the past three years and have the feeling that I would miss what we achieved last season, broke a bit.
'And I wanted to go through this next phase with Forest and Europa League football with them with them, because I and a few others were the ones who, three years ago, we entered, this was our goal to stay in the competition and try to push up.
“It's a home from home, so I had that broken heart, such as when you split with your first childhood friend.”
Since Wolves' entry for £ 25 million in 2022, Gibbs-White has become a key figure on the city grounds, with seven goals and eight assists in the Premier League in previous term when the forest rose to seventh place.
He added: 'I have to look at what is best for myself and my family. And I feel that every decision I made, I have taken it on my own back and the help of my family. I have never had a decision that I have made so far in my career, so I stay with what I believe and everything happens for a reason. '
For Tottenham, the U-turn of Gibbs-White was the first of two high-profile frustrations in a bruising. Only weeks later they thought they had protected Crystal Palace star Ebereechi, only for Arsenal to hijack the deal at the last minute.
The double setback has again revealed the old anger at chairman Daniel Levy, who has criticized the omission of getting deals over the line, despite the clear need for creativity after the long -term knee injury of James Maddison.
The pursuit of the winger of Manchester City Savinho keeps going, but the mood in North Londs is one of persistent regret.