Nottingham Forest has confirmed the departure of several players as part of their retained list for the upcoming season. Here are seven players who are leaving the club:
Players Leaving:
– Felipe: The 35-year-old Brazilian defender joined Nottingham Forest from Atletico Madrid in January 2023 and played a crucial role in helping the team avoid relegation. Felipe has announced his intention to retire from professional football this summer.
– Cheikhou Kouyate: The 35-year-old midfielder joined Forest from Crystal Palace in 2022 and made 36 appearances across two Premier League campaigns, scoring once.
– Wayne Hennessey: The goalkeeper made just nine appearances for the club, with none coming this season. Despite his limited playing time, Hennessey played an important role behind the scenes and within the goalkeeping department.
– Harry Arter: The midfielder joined Forest from Bournemouth in September 2020 but failed to make a Premier League appearance for the club.
– Gonzalo Montiel: The 27-year-old right-back was on loan from Sevilla and made 10 league appearances for Forest this season. The club held a £9 million option to make his stay permanent but will not take up the clause.
– Josh Bowler: The 25-year-old winger is currently on loan at Cardiff City and has attracted interest from Hertha Berlin, a German second-tier side.
– Giovanni Reyna: The USMNT attacker was on loan from Borussia Dortmund and made 10 appearances for Forest without scoring.
Retained List:
While the retained list isn’t exhaustive, some key players expected to stay at Nottingham Forest include ¹:
– Morgan Gibbs-White: A talented midfielder who has been instrumental in Forest’s success, with 10 Premier League assists last season. Gibbs-White is considered crucial to the team’s chances of staying in the Premier League.
– Callum Hudson-Odoi: A skilled winger who scored eight goals after signing for £3 million from Chelsea. Hudson-Odoi’s importance to the team makes him a potential retention priority.
Interesting Facts:
– Nottingham Forest was deducted four points last season due to breaches of Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), making their fight for survival even more challenging.
– The club is expected to spend again this summer, albeit with restrictions on their ability to spend due to PSR constraints.
– Forest’s manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, emphasized the importance of focusing on the team’s remaining games to secure their Premier League status ².
