Nottingham Forest have announced their retained list after the 2025/26 campaign came to a conclusion.
The Reds survived relegation with two games to spare under Vitor Pereira, and the hope will be that next season can prove a better one.
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Forest won’t have European football on the table in 2026/27, and that should give Pereira more freedom to get his best eleven players on the pitch more often than not.
The retained list has thrown up a surprise, and the fact that one player is moving on leaves the Reds with a transfer dilemma.
Stefan Ortega leaves Nottingham Forest
It comes as a shock but the retained list ahead of next season doesn’t include Stefan Ortega, with the goalkeeper leaving after only signing in January.
The German was added at a time when Matz Sels was injured, and he quickly showcased some solid form between the posts for Forest.
Ortega became the Europa League goalkeeper when Sels returned to full fitness, and in total, he made 10 appearances for the Reds during his time at the City Ground.
Now, the goalkeeper will depart the club for pastures new, and it will be fascinating to see where he ends up and whether he will remain in the Premier League.
Ortega showcased a superb ability to pass the ball out from the back, and it proved no surprise that he was once considered a regular in a Pep Guardiola team.
👋Are you disappointed that Nottingham Forest haven’t offered Stefan Ortega a new contract?
4 clean sheets in 10 matches for the Reds! 🧱
Forest must seek new goalkeeper
With Sels now 34, it’s vital that Forest land a goalkeeper this summer.
John Victor hasn’t looked remotely good enough since signing from Botafogo, and if he leaves, Forest will be down to one senior goalkeeper.
Instead of an experienced free transfer this summer, Forest have to go all out to sign a young stopper who can potentially become the club’s number one for a number of years.
A list of targets will undoubtedly be compiled by the club, but given how good he has been since signing in January, it’s a shame that something wasn’t offered to Ortega.
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