Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Austria’s World Cup star Xaver Schlager on a two-year contract.
The midfielder played three times at the World Cup, with Austria losing in the round of 32 to eventual champions Spain.
A winning start for Glasner.. which three Forest players impressed you most vs Blackburn? 👏
Jesus 40', Kalimuendo 48', Awoniyi 51'
Schlager joins having been released by RB Leipzig and boasts experience in the Champions League and on the international stage.
Glasner has managed Schlager previously at Wolfsburg, and he will now link up with his new teammates at the training camp in Portugal.
George Syrianos reacts to Xaver Schlager’s signing
It’s been clear that Glasner wants to sign Schlager for a little while, and clearly he values what he brings to a team.
Syrianos has started a new position at Forest, and after Schlager was added to the ranks, he reacted on the club’s website to the new signing.
The new Chief Football Officer told the club’s official website: “Xaver brings really important qualities and characteristics to the team, and he’s a player we’re delighted to be welcoming to Forest.
“He’s a leader, with years of experience playing at the highest level in Europe, and there is a strong feeling he has all the attributes to make an immediate impact on the team.
“Xaver enjoyed a successful period with Oliver at Wolfsburg, which will help him integrate into the squad and give him an understanding of the demands that will be set on the players.”
If Forest sign Ernest Poku which of our current wingers would you offload first?
Schlager will now join his new teammates ahead of next Friday, which takes place behind closed doors against Vitoria over the weekend.
The Austrian will bolster the midfield ranks, and he might not be the only new signing to arrive in that area of the pitch, with an Elliot Anderson replacement needing to be sought.
Schlager will want to play regularly
It’s going to be absolutely fascinating to see how Forest play next season, not least because the squad now has a number of midfielders to call upon.
That’s even before a replacement for Anderson is added to the ranks, and Forest are building nicely in that area of the pitch.
Schlager won’t have come from a club in the Champions League to sit on the bench all season, and now, the competition for places is rife.
This feels like a really useful addition to the squad, and on a free transfer, it really does feel like a bit of a no-brainer.
Receive a digest of our best Nottingham Forest content each week direct to your mailbox
