Who is Junior Nkeng? Nottingham Forest Win Race for Spanish-born Wimbledon Starlet

Who is Forest's Latest Signing?

The transfer cogs are beginning to turn properly at Nottingham Forest after an un-characteristically quiet summer so far. However, as is tradition, the Reds are starting to heat up their business at the City Ground in the late stages of summer.

With Sporting wonderkid Ousmane Diomande following Austrian star Xaver Schlager's free transfer to Forest, attention is now turning to the '3-4' new additions that Oliver Glasner is reported to be chasing. Brazil and Fiorentina right-back Dodo is one, and now another is Wimbledon starlet Junior Nkeng.

But who on earth is this Spanish-born little star that has the country clamouring this summer? Today, we have a little sneak peak at the talent heading across Trent Bridge in the coming days.

Junior Nkeng Analysed - Pros

As per Graeme Bailey (eventually), Forest have won the £1m race for Nkeng to prise him away from the Dons having beaten Championship side QPR to his signature, with an agreement over a fee being reached recently.

https://t.co/dTNa6ChGie

— Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) August 18, 2026

Whilst his two goals from 13 League One starts last season may not suggest absolute stardom right now, the fundamentals and physical aspects that Nkeng carries certainly can.

Firstly, this boy absolutely loves to dribble with the ball at his feet.

Nkeng is a classic wide attacker, who's main strength comes from his ability one-versus-one with opposing defenders, and he thrives whilst driving into dangerous areas. He has been described by many as 'direct', which is a monniker befitting the boy in many ways.

His first instinct is almost always to drive forward himself with the ball at his feet, working at his best when he is causing chaos. That translated into his first senior strikes in professional football in a single half back in March against Leyton Orient, which both stemmed from his naturally energetic brand of play.

He was born in Barcelona in August 2007 and stands at 5ft 10in at the age of 19. He is natuarally right-footed, but just as comfortable on either flank of the field. His versatility has been a big plus - at Wimbledone, he has been used as a winger on both sides as well as a more defensive wing-back, and has also spent time as part of an attacking three. As Forest look to build their squad depth ahead of the season, assuming he will be used and not loaned out, that aspect could be gold dust for them. His idol, after all, is one Cristiano Ronaldo.

His standout physical attributes are his pace and acceleration. On many an occasion has Nkeng sped away from markers whilst chewing up ground at an outlandish speed, but he does not sacrifice tracking back in this regard. He's an agile grafter on that note.

He can ride challenges and change course at the drop of a hat as a result, with his work-rate and determination meaning he rarely stays a passenger in a game. He spent time on loan with the likes of Kingstonian, Chelmsford City and Chatham Town before making the large leap up to League One football, and that time spent in the grit of England's non-league system has helped him add a physical edge to his game before finishing his season as the Don's Young Player of the Year.

Junior Nkeng's Cons

There are a couple of edges in Nkeng's game that will need refining before he becomes a regular top-flight talent. His decision making, for one, is on the up but not quite there yet with plenty of instances of shooting-when-he-should-have-passed and so forth. He is definitely a positive, forward-thinking creative threat, but he is far from the finished product with modest goal contribution numbers at his young age.

For those curious about Junior Nkeng #qpr pic.twitter.com/yEfMvs2fiN

— Arthur (@ArthurJQPR) August 18, 2026

But the key thing is the physical tools that you cannot teach a player at any stage. His positional flexibility and speed are strong traits to work off of, and he has previous of stepping up a level when afforded the chance. For a £1m talent from the third tier, now Premier League-bound, those are characteristics to be on the look out for.

The fit for Glasner and Forest works well with this in mind. He's young and hungry with Spanish flair, and he can cover a multitude of options in a high-pressure, high-intensity environment and system - something that has become synonymous with a Glasner side.

He has got what it takes to not only survive, but succeed at a top level having grafted his way at plenty of levels since leaving Tottenham at the age of 14. At Forest, we have a knack for developing strong young talents, and the move for Nkeng may just be the diamond in the rough of this transfer window even if he will not likely be involved with the first team from day one.

So, should the deal go ahead as suggested in the coming days, Nkeng can be a player to get rather excited about at the City Ground.