Nottingham Forest kept faith with manager Steve Cooper during a rollercoaster season that saw them bottom of the table for five straight weeks before pulling themselves up to 13th only to plunge back into the relegation zone after going 11 games without a win.
However, a late salvo saw them pick up 11 points from a possible 18 to finish in 16th place.
There have been plenty of changes around the club, the City Ground has a new playing surface and the home dressing room has been renovated, new data analysts have been hired too. However in contrast to the flurry of transfer activity last summer when they were promoted, the team have been strategic in their summer signings so far while cutting away some of the excess.
Here we look at the confirmed ins and outs so far for the Tricky Trees.
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Nottingham Forest new signings: Summer 2023 arrivals
Chris Wood (Newcastle United)
The New Zealand international striker played seven games on loan last season scoring once, but his all-round display was enough for Nottingham Forest to make the move permanent paying a reported £12m and handing Chris Wood a one-year contract.
Despite a lean couple of season, registering just 7 Premier League goals in 59 games since August 2021, the Auckland-born centre forward netted 10+ goals in four successive seasons for Burnley. The 31-year-old will provide good depth alongside starting striker Taiwo Awoniyi.
Anthony Elanga (Manchester United)
The Midlands club have been looking for Premier League experience in this transfer window and made the move for exciting young prospect Anthony Elanga. The 21-year-old Swedish international winger saw his playing time reduced last season at Old Trafford with the arrival of Ten Haag’s preferred choice Antony. That left him further behind in the pecking order behind Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho.
Elanga turned down an offer from Everton to sign a five-year contract with Steve Cooper’s team, he looks to be guaranteed plenty of minutes on the left-hand side with the departure of André Ayew.
Ola Aina (Torino)
The versatile Londoner returns to the Premier League after a spell in Italy with Tornio who managed consecutive top half finishes in his last two seasons there. The 26-year-old who can play both right back and right wing-back came through the Chelsea youth system where he picked up a host of trophies but only made six senior appearances for the side.
His previous full season in the Premier League ended in relegation, with Fulham in 2020-21, where he played over 30 matches. However, he is going to face stiff competition in the full back department with Serge Aurier and Neco Williams also on the books.
Matt Turner – Arsenal
With Dean Henderson and Nevas heading back to their clubs, Nottingham Forest needed a keeper. And, well, they found one in former Arsenal man Matt Turner. The 29-year-old keeper joined Arsenal last year from MLS side New England Revolution. With Arsenal now adding Raya alongside Ramsdale, Turner couldn't break into the starting 11.
Moving to Forest for a reported £8m fee, Turner has a chance to prove he has what he takes to make it in the Premier League on a regular basis.
Callum Hudson-Odoi – Chelsea
At just 22 years old, Callum Hudson-Odoi is making a move that could see him be a bargain of the window. For a fee of just £3m, plus £2m in add-ons, Callum Hudson-Odoi is being given another chance to push his career forward. Having played 156 times for Chelsea already, Callum Hudson-Odoi joins Forest with a wealth of Premier League experience for his age. Callum Hudson-Odoi has spent 16-years at Chelsea, but will now look to move his career forward at Forest.
Nicolas Dominguez – Bologna
Signing on a five-year deal, Nicolas Dominguez is another player to join to major two-season overhaul at Forest. Dominguez has played 11 times for Argentina, while appearing 34 times for Bologna last season. At 25. Dominguez should be the right age to adapt to the Premier League and improve Forest. Dominguez is a tenacious midfielder, that loves to attack space. He becomes Forest's eighth signing of the window.
Divock Origi AC Milan (loan)
Joining on loan from AC Milan, Origi will return to the Premier League with big spenders Nottingham Forest. While Origi was never a super star striker in the league, he was a cult hero at Liverpool, and Forest will be hoping for something similar. Origi played 175 games for Liverpool in his eight-year stay at the club, most notably scoring an iconic goal to help secure Liverpool a Champions League title. Origi scored 2 goals in 27 appearances for AC Milan last season.
Nottingham Forest’s notable transfer departures
Jesse Lingard (Released)
The 30-year-old midfielder has been looking to revive his career but his 17 Premier League games without a goal nor an assist did nothing to justify a contract extension. Lingard was the highest paid player on the bloated Nottingham Forest squad last season so it was no surprise he was released when his current deal expired.
At the time of writing there is no news as to where JLingz will head next season and whether another Premier League club will take the chance on him.
Sam Surridge (Nashville SC)
Forest’s number nine has swapped the River Trent for Music City as he becomes one of Nashville’s marquee signings, joining for a reported £5.5m. The young striker is yet to register double figures in a league campaign but is hoping to find his rhythm playing alongside last year’s MVP Hany Mukhtar.
The Costa Rican goalkeeper was brought in urgently to replace another loanee Dean Henderson following his long-term injury and had an important impact during the final run in. In his 17 games between the sticks the three-time World Cup veteran made a string of important saves as Forest only lost twice at home during his tenure.
At present the club are hoping to lure Navas back to Nottingham but a host of other clubs are also in the running for the 36 year old.
Other departures
Another seven players have also been released, moved on for free or seen their loan spell come to an end as the former European champions look to ease the wage bill.
- Cafú (Rotherham – free transfer)
- Jordan Smith (Stockport – free transfer)
- André Ayew (released)
- Jack Colback (released)
- Lyle Taylor (released)
- Adnan Kanuric (released)
- Renan Lodi (Atlético Madrid – end of loan)
