Nottingham Forest have a lot of things to iron out in the summer of 2025 and several players will be returning from loan spells.
Forest will tackle the UEFA Conference League next season with a seventh-place finish enough to secure a return to Europe for the first time in 30 years.
With an extra competition on the cards, Nuno Espirito Santo might look to have a slightly bigger squad for the 2025/26 campaign.
Players will head out on loan once again, and they can be so tricky to get right, particularly when it comes to younger players from the Forest academy.
Last season saw 16 players head out on loan with a varying degree of success and we’ve looked at how all 16 players fared during their temporary stints away from the City Ground, grading each one out of five for the success of their loan.
David Carmo (Olympiacos)
- Games played: 35
Carmo signed for Forest for around £10 million but was sent straight to Olympiacos, where he helped them achieve the league and cup double.
The defender will now return to Forest with a desire to play in the Premier League but it remains to be seen if he will get such a chance.
Loan rating: 4/5
Josh Bowler (Preston North End and Luton Town)
- Games played: 21 (13 for Preston, 8 for Luton)
Not Bowler’s season, and with each passing year, this feels like one of the weirdest signings in the club’s history.
Steve Cooper has a lot to answer for with this addition to the Forest ranks.
Loan rating: 1/5
Emmanuel Dennis (Blackburn Rovers)
- Games played: 7
Another loan that didn’t work out, although John Eustace’s leaving Blackburn to join Derby shortly after his arrival probably didn’t help.
Whether Forest can move him on this summer remains to be seen.
Loan rating: 2/5
Lewis O’Brien (LAFC and Swansea City)
- Games played: 34 (18 for LAFC, 16 for Swansea)
The midfielder did well in both loan spells, and he should have placed himself firmly in the shop window.
O’Brien has three EFL clubs chasing his signature and it looks unlikely that he will remain at the City Ground beyond this summer.
Loan rating: 4/5
Andrew Omobamidele (Strasbourg)
- Games played: 11
The Republic of Ireland international joined Liam Rosenior’s outfit on loan in January and did well.
Omobamidele earned rave reviews out in France and it remains to be seen whether he will move on from Forest or get another chance at the club.
Loan rating: 3/5
Marko Stamenic (Olympiacos)
- Games played: 23
The unknown quantity was another player to check in and then go out to Olympiacos.
Wasn’t considered a first-choice starter, and as with many other Forest players, it’s not clear what the future holds.
Loan rating: 2/5
Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
- Games played: 4
Signed for Palace to become the second in command behind Dean Henderson.
Only made four appearances but did claim an FA Cup medal after the Eagles defeated Manchester City in the final.
Loan rating: 2/5
Omar Richards (Rio Ave)
- Games played: 31
The left-back is another who looks unlikely to play for Forest.
Quickly settled in Portugal and after helping Olympiacos win the Conference League in 2023/24, he moved to Rio Ave, where he’s been rather impressive.
Loan rating: 3/5
Dale Taylor (Wigan Athletic)
- Games played: 47
Probably the pick of the bunch when it came to players going out on loan from Forest.
Taylor scored 11 goals and claimed seven assists for Wigan and another loan move surely beckons next season.
Loan rating: 5/5
Joe Gardner (Lincoln City)
- Games played: 11
Gardner was sent off on debut, but once he settled he did manage to score his maiden EFL goal at the Imps.
Loan rating: 3/5
Ben Perry (Northampton Town)
- Games played: 17
Perry was praised by Kevin Nolan for his efforts and it would be no surprise to see him loaned out again this summer.
Loan rating: 4/5
Esapa Osong (Rotherham United and Cambridge United)
- Games played: 12 (10 for Rotherham, 2 for Cambridge)
A season riddled with injury for Osong and hopefully, he can get more minutes under his belt next season somewhere.
Loan rating: 2/5
Jonathan Panzo (Rio Ave)
- Games played: 22
Looks set to join Rio Ave on a permanent basis and much like the signing of Bowler, Panzo has proved a very strange addition to the Forest squad.
Loan rating: 3/5
Aaron Donnelly (Colchester United)
- Games played: 22
Was sold to Dundee in January, but largely did very well for Colchester before doing so.
Loan rating: 4/5
Jamie McDonnell (Colchester United)
- Games played: 37
Another youngster who excelled away from Forest and was named the Player of the Year for his efforts in Danny Cowley’s team
Loan rating: 5/5
Manni Norkett (Cheltenham Town)
- Games played: 6
Struggled to get a game in League Two with the Robins and returned to Forest in January
Loan rating: 1/5
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