Nottingham Forest completed an almighty coup when they managed to land Callum Hudson-Odoi from Chelsea in the summer of 2023.
The Reds went in search of a new winger after selling Brennan Johnson to Tottenham for £47.5 million on transfer deadline day.
Hudson-Odoi came to Forest for just £3 million – whilst Anthony Elanga was also signed to bolster the wide options from Manchester United.
If Elanga was a raw option, Hudson-Odoi was anything but. He’s been linked with a £70 million transfer to Bayern Munich before an Achilles injury hampered his progress.
Hudson-Odoi produced the goods last season. He scored on his debut against Burnley at the City Ground and would score seven more times during the campaign.
One man who Hudson-Odoi already knew at Forest was Morgan Gibbs-White, with the pair helping England win the under-17 World Cup in 2017.
Callum Hudson-Odoi shares what Morgan Gibbs-White told him before Forest debut
Hudson-Odoi couldn’t play against Chelsea away last season as the game was played just hours after the window had closed, and the winger was not registered in time.
This weekend, he goes back to Stamford Bridge for the first time since leaving and that could prove emotional.
Hudson-Odoi has shared what Gibbs-White told him about playing in front of the Forest faithful with the winger making his debut against Burnley around a year ago.
The winger has explained in an interview with the Daily Mail exactly how Gibbs-White was right by what he said to Hudson-Odoi.
He said: “He was right. I realised it the first game I played here. Morgan told me to listen and yeah it was just loud. I couldn’t even hear myself say anything.”
Hudson-Odoi and Gibbs-White are vital to Forest
Both players have been playing alongside each other for many years and that makes the pair quality together.
As a result, Nuno Espirito Santo will want to get the two out on the pitch together as much as possible during this season.
Forest have made a strong start to the 2024/25 campaign – with Hudson-Odoi scoring the winner against Liverpool at Anfield last month.
The player has proved an absolute steal for Forest and clearly, Hudson-Odoi is desperate to make up for a barren spell in his career when he was at a bit of a standstill.
Still only 23, Hudson-Odoi can thrive at Forest. He’s playing most weeks and he’s one of the most integral players at the club to make him a very valuable asset.
Hudson-Odoi scoring at Anfield is a sign of how far he’s come since being an outcast at Chelsea.
Together with Gibbs-White, the pair could seriously help kick Forest to another level this season.
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