Tracking Nottingham Forest's Summer 2024 Departures and International Updates

Forest trimmed their squad considerably in summer 2024, leading to the departure of at least 19 players (excluding those only heading out on loan for the first time *since* summer 2024).

Departed players have experienced varied success, with some finding regular football abroad (Scott McKenna at Las Palmas, Loic Mbe Soh at Beerschot) while others struggle for game time (Divock Origi at AC Milan, Harry Arter released).

Key players like Joe Worrall and Moussa Niakhate secured moves to Burnley and Lyon respectively.

Several players returned from loans only to move elsewhere (e.g., Gonzalo Montiel, Nuno Tavares, Gio Reyna).

Current Forest player Ola Aina impressed for Nigeria on international duty, notably playing well out of his usual club position.

Why this matters: Tracking former players provides insight into Forest's transfer business effectiveness and squad management, while international performances highlight the current squad's talent depth.

Felipe: Retired, citing family reasons.

Wayne Hennessey: Initially released, later re-signed a short-term deal as experienced backup cover.

Cheikhou Kouyate: Remains a free agent after his contract expired.

Harry Arter: Released after a long period out of the first team, now playing for Precision FC in Dubai.

Scott McKenna: Joined La Liga side Las Palmas as a free agent and has become a regular feature, making over 20 league appearances.

Loic Mbe Soh: Released and signed for Belgian club Beerschot, establishing himself as a regular starter.

Odysseas Vlachodimos: Moved to Newcastle United but has seen very limited action.

Joe Worrall: The academy graduate joined Burnley, finding minutes challenging in a competitive squad.

Moussa Niakhate: Secured a permanent move to Lyon, playing regularly.

Alex Mighten: Transferred to MLS side San Diego, was loaned to FC Nordsjaelland, and is now back in the US featuring sporadically.

Hwang Ui-jo: Signed for Turkish side Alanyaspor and has received consistent game time.

Gonzalo Montiel: Returned to Sevilla from his Forest loan before moving back to former club River Plate in Argentina, where he plays regularly.

Nuno Tavares: After his Forest loan ended, he joined Lazio on loan from Arsenal and has started frequently in Serie A.

Gio Reyna: Returned to Borussia Dortmund post-loan; getting more minutes recently but future uncertain.

Divock Origi: Returned to AC Milan but reportedly hasn't played competitively and isn't training with the first team.

Rodrigo Ribeiro: On loan at Portuguese side AVS from Sporting Lisbon, featuring more regularly than at Forest.

Brandon Aguilera: Loaned to Rio Ave, featuring regularly and contributing goals.

Orel Mangala: Signed permanently for Lyon before being loaned to Everton, where he made 21 appearances before a season-ending ACL injury.

Julian Larsson: Joined Burton Albion but injury has limited his appearances.

Ola Aina: Recently played for Nigeria against Zimbabwe. Despite playing at left-back (differing from his usual right-back role at Forest), he impressed media outlets, assisting Victor Osimhen's goal with an excellent cross and earning positive reviews for his performance.

Q: Why did so many players leave Nottingham Forest in Summer 2024?

A: The club aimed to significantly trim the squad size after previous large influxes of players, creating a more manageable group for the manager and aligning with financial considerations.

Q: Which former Forest player seems to be having the most success abroad?

A: Scott McKenna (Las Palmas), Loic Mbe Soh (Beerschot), and Moussa Niakhate (Lyon) appear to have secured regular starting roles and positive contributions at their new clubs. Nuno Tavares (Lazio) is also playing frequently.

Q: How did Ola Aina perform on international duty?

A: He played well for Nigeria, even when deployed at left-back. He provided a key assist and received praise from Nigerian media for his adaptability and defensive work.

Player careers can take vastly different paths after leaving a club; success isn't guaranteed elsewhere.

Forest's squad reshuffle highlights the ongoing challenges of managing player turnover and integrating new signings.

International duty provides a platform for players like Ola Aina to showcase their versatility and importance beyond their regular club roles.

Fans can follow the progress of former players to see the long-term impact of the club's transfer decisions.

Source 1: Origi, Mangala, Arter - how 19 players who left Nottingham Forest have got on - Nottinghamshire Live

Source 2: Foreign media go crazy over £8m Nottingham Forest star as he plays ‘out of position’ on international duty

Source 3: Gallery | Reds return from international duty