Premier League Team Guides: Nottingham Forest
Before becoming a Sports Journalist for Free Super Tips, Aaron spent three years studying Sports Journalism at the University of Sunderland while taking in the Black Cats' 'glory years' under Martin O'Neill. Now back in Northern Ireland he turns niche stats into predictions for FST, while he's one of the few people on this island who is equally comfortable at Windsor Park and the Aviva.
This article is part of our team-by-team guide to the 2025/26 Premier League season. Click here for the full list of team guides.
Team overview
- League Position: 7th
- FA Cup: Semi-final
- EFL Cup: Second round
- Top scorer: Chris Wood (20)
Season review
After spending their first two years back in the Premier League battling against the drop, Nottingham Forest made a huge leap into the European places.
However, Forest’s seventh-placed finish came with some disappointment after their excellent start to the campaign.
Forest closed out 2024 in second, having won 11 of their first 19 matches. Their record in 2025 was the 11th-best in the division, trailing behind Crystal Palace, Brentford, and Everton.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side had a dismal end to the campaign, winning two of their final eight games. In that stretch, they earned fewer points than Wolves and West Ham.
It’s little surprise that Forest struggled as the stakes got higher, as their matches tended to be decided by the opening goal. They struck first in 25 of their 38 games, winning 18 and losing only twice.
However, Forest won only one of the 12 matches in which they conceded first, losing nine. Their five points from matches in which they conceded first was the third-lowest total across the top flight.
Nuno turned Forest into one of the league’s meanest defences. They ultimately didn’t have enough up front, despite Chris Wood’s best efforts.
Forest finished in the bottom six in terms of Expected Goals, which suggests next season could be much tougher without some significant investment.
The Thursday-Sunday grind tends to be a little overstated, but it could be a real issue for a Forest side that struggles to recover from a single defensive misstep.
Key stat: Nottingham Forest outperformed their Expected Goals tally by the largest margin in the Premier League last season
Transfer window preview
While Forest missed out on the Champions League jackpot, their Premier League leap from 17th to seventh brings an extra £30million in prize money.
That should help balance their books, following their points deduction in 2023/24 for falling foul of financial rules.
The club made an aggressive start to the window, chasing a triple-signing from Brazilian side Botafogo. The club agreed a deal for defender Jair Cunha, full-back Cuiabano, and striker Igor Jesus.
Adding depth is key for Forest ahead of a potential European run. The club also have to aim to move on some out-of-favour fringe players, while holding on to the foundation of last season’s success.
Outright odds: 150/1
Top 4 odds: 16/1
To be relegated odds: 10/1
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