US fashion retailer Forever 21 is closing in on its first UK store signing, in London’s Covent Garden.

The retailer has been looking for sites in the UK since February and has considered London locations including Regent Street, Bond Street and Covent Garden.

The retailer is reportedly close to signing for its first store in St Martin’s Courtyard, a joint development between Shaftesbury and The Mercers’ Company. It is in talks over a 25,000 sq ft store over three levels, in the same area of the scheme recently signed for by H&M sister brand Cos.

In July, Retail Week revealed that Forever 21 was keen to open four stores in London as part of its initial push into the UK.

It is also understood to be eyeing continental Europe as the next stepping stone on its global expansion trail.

The retailer was founded in the US in 1984 and has grown to a multinational chain of about 500 stores.

It is also expanding into Thailand and Japan at present.

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