Highly-rated Altrincham striker Lewis Salmon has landed a dream move to Nottingham Forest after signing for the two-time European champions for an undisclosed fee.

In a remarkable transfer, the teenage prospect joined Forest’s under-23 squad on a two-year deal after leaving Alty without having made a single competitive senior appearance.

Snapped up by Alty boss Phil Parkinson after impressing on trial during the summer of 2019, the 19-year old attracted the attention of Forest scouts during a free-scoring spell on loan at Trafford, where he rose to the top of the BetVictor Northern Premier League North West Division scoring charts.

He was invited to the City Ground for a trial in April and made a good enough impression for Forest to follow up with a bid and complete a move that finally went through earlier this week.

“I can’t wait to get started,” said the Stoke-born youngster. “I’ve been with Altrincham for 18 months and been on loan a couple of times so I feel I’ve gained a good amount of experience already. I’m a player that works really hard and enjoys scoring goals, so I’m delighted to be given this opportunity.”

In another departure, influential midfielder Alistair Smith’s consistently outstanding form for Altrincham last season has won him a return to the Football League after newly-promoted Sutton United met his buyout clause and signed him for an undisclosed fee.

When Alty bosses pulled off a spectacular coup five months ago by persuading Smith to become a fully-fledged Robin, after an eye-catching loan spell, it was only on the condition the door would be kept open for a possible return to league football.

That has now happened, with National League champions Sutton marking their elevation to League Two by triggering the clause in Smith’s 18-month Alty contract.

But, in better news, right-back Joel Senior, a multiple winner at the end of season awards night just over a month ago, has signed a new one-year deal and defender Kennedy Digie has joined the club from Hereford.

In addition, Alty’s board has been strengthened with the appointment of head of partnerships and sponsorship Samantha Mackenzie, who becomes only the fourth female director in the club’s history.