Why Nottingham Forest’s European Football Could Affect Their Transfer Business

Nottingham Forest have had a stellar season in the Premier League this year, with the city being swooped into the frenzy of possible Champions League football next year. Nuno Espirito Santo has truly changed the footballing fortunes of Forest this season, going toe to toe and beyond against some of the best team in the country.

Chris Wood has been in top form for the side, battling out for the golden boot, whilst other key players such as Morgan Gibbs-White, Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo have provided a perfect foundation to push on with.

All of these players have contributed to the success of the reds this season, and could see themselves playing under the lights midweek during the Champions League next season.

It has been decades since European Football has came to Nottingham, and lots has changed in football since then. One of the changes has been the implementation of the homegrown players rule, enforcing clubs to name a certain amount of homegrown players to their squads for the season.

So, how could this affect Nottingham Forest, who may struggle to reach this quota?

What Is The Homegrown Quota Rules And How Does It Affect Forest?

Ahead of the 2025/26 Champions League season, the rules as laid out by UEFA state that Clubs competing in the Champions League must have at least 8 homegrown players in their 25-man squad, meaning that 8 of the players must have been trained in the same country, England for Forest, for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.

However, four of the eight homegrown players must be trained by the club itself for three years during from the ages 15 to 21, meaning that Forest must include four of their own academy players in their squad.

Players under the age of 21 do not have to be registered in order to play, but then therefore will not count as a target towards the homegrown quota unless registered as part of the 25-man list.

The rules were implemented by UEFA in order to promote the growth of youth talent, rather than clubs buying the best youngsters and claiming them as their own. This could pose an issue for Nottingham Forest, as their high spending since their return to the Premier League just a few years ago has caused for many of their own academy players being moved on elsewhere, with a deficit of their own academy starlets.

In Nottingham Forest’s 25 man squad that was named ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season, they were able to name twelve players across the 25-man list. Although, this has already went down to eleven following James Ward-Prowse returning back to West Ham after his loan spell was cut short.

This may sound more than enough for Forest, but out of the eleven homegrown players at their disposal, only Ryan Yates was a product of the youth academy, meaning 3 more are need for next season if Champions League football came to the City ground.

Academy centre back Zach Abott has appeared on the bench multiple times this season for Nottingham Forest, so could be of use next season in the Champions League to reach the quota.

However, Forest will still struggle to reach the quota, so could they look to the transfer market in order to get back some of their previous talent to reach the target?

Big fan of #NFFC putting an academy kid, Zach Abbott, on the bench today to preserve this record (in light of Ryan Yates being suspended).

Keeps up the record of Forest fielding a homegrown player in every squad since 1941 ⬇️👌
https://t.co/uAxeDAKeUm

— Daniel Taylor (@DTathletic) December 29, 2024

Johnson Back At The City Ground?

Nottingham Forest fans will be all to familiar with the name Brennan Johnson. Rising through the ranks at Nottingham Forest, Johnson made a name for himself in the East Midlands, being the star at the forefront of promotion into the Premier League.

Johnson scored sixteen times in Forest’s promotion season, whilst also providing two extra goals in their play-off wining run. The Welshman then went onto score eight goals and get three assists in his first season in the Premier League, playing a key part in the survival of their first Premier League season.

Johnson secured himself a move to London in a £50million switch to Tottenham Hotspur. It was a good first season for Johnson, scoring seven times and assisting ten. He is now into his second season at Spurs, and has fourteen goals and three assists in all competitions.

Johnson impressed early on this season, and couldn’t stop scoring for the Spurs, but has now since struggled since picking up a minor injury, and has struggled to land himself a permanent spot in the starting eleven.

With Forest looking for more academy trained players ahead of their potential Champions League campaign next season, could Johnson find himself back home? Johnson could be tempted by Champions League, something Spurs wont have next season, along with being able to play in the competition for the club that gave him so much in the start of the career.

It may seem unlikely, considering Spurs only bought him for fifty million pounds two seasons ago, and Spurs will most likely have to sanction sale for less than what they paid. It wont make sense for Spurs to sell, but Forest may prove to show too much desire in getting their boyhood star back, and Johnson may be keen on regular football back at the club where it started, especially in the Champions League.

🚨⚪️: Brennan Johnson has been linked with a stunning return to Nottingham Forest and it’s believed that the 23 year old is open on returning to the city ground.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🌳 pic.twitter.com/6Ka2FrG9Ss

— Tottenham Transfer News (@Bergvallisking) March 15, 2025

Could Villa Be Tempted To Cash In?

Aston Villa have also had a heroic rise to the top end of the Premier League, playing in the Champions League this season. Villa have had a great campaign in Europe but could hold a possible solution to Forest’s homegrown quota problems.

Right back Matty Cash came up through the Nottingham Forest academy, signing his first ever professional deal with the club in 2016. Cash put in stellar performances for Forest across their championship seasons and was able to earn himself a move to Premier League side Aston Villa.

Cash joined Villa in 2020, and has been a regular ever since, featuring in the Conference League and the Champions League. With his contract expiring in two years (2027), both Villa and Cash could find that this is a suitable time to part ways, with Cash’s performances no longer what they once were and could soon be replaced.

Nottingham Forest could turn to Matty Cash, as he could be a perfect option for their homegrown issues. Cash would be available for a relatively cheap price and still poses that Premier League quality that could be of use for Forest.

As well as this, the Polish international will also boast Champions League experience, something that is lacking within the current Forest squad. He could be tempted with the switch back to Nottingham, as he could similarly to Johnson, want to experience Champions League football with the club who gave him his first professional contract in football.

Could A Bosnian Save The Day?

Anel Ahmedhodzic has showed much promise in his time with Sheffield United and has been linked with moves to some top clubs across England. The Bosnian grew up playing for Malmo in Sweden, but switched to England, joining Nottingham Forest’s under eighteens side in 2016, and featured for all of the youth sides before moving back to Malmo and never appearing for the Forest first team.

Although Ahmedhodzic never made an appearance for Forest, he would still qualify as an academy trained player, having being trained at the club for three years whilst under the age of 21.

Ahmedhodzic hasn’t ever got the big move he was hoping for, but has featured 30 times this season for Sheffield United, and could be playing in the Premier League once again this year.

The centre back may not be of Champions League quality yet, but still has many years to grow and could be a good option for Forest to develop him, whilst also counting him towards the homegrown quota.

With his contract expiring next year in 2026, the blades could be keen to offload Ahmedhodzic who may not want to renew his contract, and the blades could want to make profit from the defender.

A century as the Blades’ shield 🛡️

Anel Ahmedhodžić 👏 pic.twitter.com/KhNmsHBXlh

— PFA (@PFA) March 1, 2025

Forest face a difficult window, with the need for homegrown players dictating the business they look to do. However, with limited options of players to sign, Forest may want to look towards their academy instead to get their homegrown numbers up. Forest will want to sign players of high quality who can adapt well to the Champions League, which may come as a top priority ahead of their homegrown worries.