Detailed Nottingham Forest Season Preview: Insights and Predictions

Where Did Nottingham Forest Finish Last Season?

Though Nottingham Forest always seem to be in the Premier League limelight for a plethora of reasons - may they be good or bad ones at that - they spent last season's top-flight campaign in the spotlight for their outstanding and daring on-field achievements.

Despite being tipped as one of the favourites to be relegated back into the Championship at the end of the 24/25 season, following two consecutively nail-biting but eventually successful relegation battles, Espirito Nuno Santo and his side shocked the league by maintaining a surprise push for Champions League qualification over the course of their campaign. Though they sadly lost momentum in the twilight of the season to fall short of that metric, they still secured European football for the first time in 30 years by way of the UEFA Conference League, finishing in 7th position in the Premier League.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST ARE THIRD IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE 🚨 pic.twitter.com/54lqWamtj8

— Louis Wheeldon (@LouisWheeldonNS) December 21, 2024

They made their way through domestic trophy formats in solid style, too. An early exit in the Carabao Cup at the hands of Newcastle United was more than made up for by a Wembley visit in the FA Cup semi-final, where they fell short to eventual runners-up Manchester City by a score of 2-0 in the capital.

However, off-field circumstances have seen Forest squaring up with a promotion to the Europa League for the forthcoming season, with John Textor's opinion-splitting involvement in both Olympique Lyon and Crystal Palace, who secured their ticket to the competition by besting Man City in the aforementioned FA Cup final, seeing the latter moved into the Conference League due to UEFA's ever-confusing multi-club ownership rules (pending an appeal from The Eagles).

Best Result: Nottingham Forest 7-0 Brighton: (Dunk 12' og, Gibbs-White 25', Wood 32', 64', 69', Williams 89', Silva 90'+1)

Worst Result: Bournemouth 5-0 Forest: (Kluivert 9', Ouattara 55', 61', 87', Semenyo 90+1')

Who Have Nottingham Forest Signed In The Summer Transfer Window So Far?

Jair Cunha from Botafogo - £10.4 Million

Igor Jesus from Botafogo - £10 Million

Cherif Yaya from Rio Ave - Undisclosed Fee

Who Have Nottingham Forest Sold in the Summer Transfer Window So Far?

Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United - £55 Million

Ramon Sosa to Palmeiras - £10.4 Million

Andrew Omobamidele to RC Strasbourg Alsace - Loan made permanent for £9 Million

Tyler Bindon to Sheffield United - Season long loan

Ben Perry to Colchester United - Undisclosed Fee

Kyle McAdam to Mansfield Town - Season long loan

Jack Perkins to Northampton Town - Undisclosed Fee

Jonathan Panzo to Rio Ave - Free Transfer

Harry Toffolo - Released

Wayne Hennessey - Released

Alex Moreno to Aston Villa - End of Loan

Joel Ndala to Manchester City - End of Loan

Nottingham Forest 2025/26 Home, Away and Third Kits

First outing for the home kit. 😎

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) July 12, 2025

No away or third kit confirmed

What is Nottingham Forest’s Opening Premier League Fixture?

Nottingham Forest vs Brentford | The City Ground, Nottingham | Sunday, August 17th, 14:00

How Can I Watch Tottenham vs Burnley?

Nottingham Forest's opening day clash with Brentford has been selected for live Super Sunday coverage by Sky Sports.

What Are Nottingham Forest's First Five Fixtures?

Nottingham Forest vs Brentford - Sunday, August 17th

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest - Sunday, August 24th

Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United - Sunday, August 31st

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest - TBC.

Burnley vs Nottingham Forest - TBC.

When Do Nottingham Forest Play Rivals Leeds United in 2025/26?

With all of their local derby opponents playing in the Championship or below, Nottingham Forest’s only perceived rivals for the upcoming season may be Leeds United. Though the two clubs will have largely differing aspirations on the field, the duo have a fairly fiery history between each other.

Last Five Meetings:

- 04/04/2023 - Leeds United 2-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)

- 05/02/2023 - Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds United (Premier League)

- 08/02/2020 - Nottingham Forest 2-0 Leeds United (EFL Championship)

- 10/08/2019 - Leeds United 1-1 Nottingham Forest (EFL Championship)

- 01/01/2019 - Nottingham Forest 4-2 Leeds United (EFL Championship)

Who is Nottingham Forest’s Manager for 2025/26?

Evangelos Marinakis has handed Nuno Espírito Santo a new three-year contract until the summer of 2028. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/SCYwWz4DRW

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) June 21, 2025

Nottingham Forest fans will have been forgiven at the time of Nuno Santo's arrival for being apprehensive of his appointment as manager, no less due to the fact it meant the departure of Steve Cooper, a manager who rose to legend status in a few short years with the club after restoring the joy to a rotting Championship relegation contender, before achieving an outstanding Premier League promotion for The Reds after decades away.

However, Nuno Santo has more than convinced even the hardest-set opinion-makers amongst the fanbase in his first full year in charge of the club. After guiding the side through a points deduction and a slipping grip on a relegation battle, the former Porto goalkeeper guided Forest from a successful relegation battle to a successful European qualification in the space of just over a season, finding the signings and the style of play that suited Forest to their core and left the Premier League stunned. Though momentum slipped in the final weeks of the season, it was a campaign to be proud of.

The Portuguese manager, revered at Wolverhampton Wanderers for providing similar exploits, was rumoured to be on the way out of The City Ground this summer, but a contract extension until 2028 signed at the back end of June has tied the fan-favourite boss to a commitment to their forthcoming European adventure.

Who is Nottingham Forest’s Player to Watch?

Elliot Anderson

Elliot Anderson won possession 207 times in the Premier League last season. Only Bruno Fernandes (213) and Moisés Caicedo (229) won the ball more.

Grafter. 🔋 pic.twitter.com/4nEXXmjBsA

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) July 2, 2025

Though signed with more of an attacking intention placed behind him, Elliot Anderson made the central midfield position his own within Forest's ranks over the course of last season, with his work-ethic, tenacity and ability in possession all making him out as a shining light within red ranks.

With the departure of Anthony Elanga confirmed and the controversial sale of Morgan Gibbs-White likely to be confirmed at some point this summer, Anderson may well receive a larger share of the plaudits across the forthcoming campaign, with his performances in the recent U21 European Championship giving the wider footballing world a glimpse of his phenomenal talent.

Nottingham Forest 2025/26 Season Prediction

This section will be completed at the start of August, when the team has started to take a more accurate shape following various incomings and outgoings.