Nottingham Forest eye Premier League free agents to strengthen squad for 2026/27 season

Nottingham Forest plan to target Premier League free agents ahead of the 2026/27 season to support head coach Vitor Pereira’s European ambitions. The club aims to rely on cost-effective signings to complement the existing squad as several current contracts near expiration this summer.

Nottingham Forest plan a limited number of signings targeted primarily at Premier League free agents ahead of the 2026/27 season as part of head coach Vitor Pereira’s strategy for a European campaign. The club intends to keep its core squad intact while focusing on cost-effective additions.

Heavy investment in recent transfers yielded mixed results during the 2025/26 campaign. Players such as Dilane Bakwa and James McAtee each cost £30 million, Dan Ndoye £34 million, and Omari Hutchinson £37.5 million, but all faced challenges in adapting at Trentside initially. The club is now considering renewing its successful approach of spotting underrated talents on free transfers.

Examples of value signings include Stefan Ortega, signed for a nominal fee from Manchester City during the winter window, and Ola Aina, a free transfer three years ago. Contracts for several current players—Ortega, Willy Boly, Angus Gunn, and Omar Richards—are about to expire, while former Forest goalkeeper Karl Darlow and ex-loanee Sam Byram are also available on free transfers.

Beyond Forest, a number of Premier League players are approaching contract expiry this summer. Arsenal’s Karl Hein is moving to Werder Bremen, while Aston Villa midfielder Ross Barkley is also among available players. Other names linked to potential free transfers include Brentford’s Rico Henry, Brighton duo Adam Webster and Solly March, Crystal Palace pair Daichi Kamada and Jefferson Lerma, Everton’s Seamus Coleman, and Fulham forward Harry Wilson. Well-known figures such as John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, Fabian Schär, Kieran Trippier, Yves Bissouma, Callum Wilson, and Matt Doherty are reported as nearing contract ends, though some may have pre-existing offers or may renew elsewhere.