The Northern Irish youth international moved from Glentoran at the start of the season and the midfielder has made a big impact with the Under 18s so far this season.
The 17-year-old said: “I am very happy, I have worked my whole life for it. I am happy to get it signed and to start my career at Forest. It feels like a big moment, as a child you always dream of becoming a professional footballer and moving to England has been a big change for me but I have adapted to it well and hopefully I can progress and get better.
“It has been a tough move for me physically as I am training all the time and I will be going home tired, whereas I was used to being fine before. It is a level up, technically and tactically, and the development you get here is unbelievable. I feel that I have progressed so much, physically and technically.
“I want to keep progressing, progress into the Under 23s team and get my first start and more minutes under my belt and progress on from there.
“You have seen a lot of young players progress here and I would love to do that, this club has a great record of progressing young players and developing them. It is the mental side that you have to develop to take that step, to deal with the setbacks as you always get those, and to make sure that you turn it into a positive to impact on your game.”
McDonnell has featured 11 times for the Under 18s so far this season, as well as making his debut for the Under 23s, and 18s head coach Gareth Holmes is looking forward to seeing the young midfielder continue to develop.
Holmes said: “Jamie has integrated into the club really well coming from Northern Ireland. He excels in the defensive side of the game, he is a born winner and very competitive which brings a great energy to the training pitch.
“I am looking forward to working with him more and improving aspects of his game. This is the second rung on a very big ladder for him. He came in the building as a scholar and he has done well to get his professional contract, now the next step is breaking into the Under 23s and he has to set his sights high.”
