MEDICAL UPDATE: STEFAN ORTEGA ARRIVES IN NOTTINGHAM TO FINALIZE SHORT-TERM PREMIER LEAGUE CONTRACT
Nottingham Forest are set to sign Stefan Ortega from Man City for £500k following John Victor's season-ending knee injury.
Nottingham Forest look set to bring some experience and composure to their goalkeeping squad, with Stefan Ortega close to joining from Manchester City. The Independent first broke the story, and it really feels like Forest is moving fast to shore up a key area for the challenging Premier League run-in.
Ortega’s reputation is a little under the radar. At City, he played backup to Ederson, stepping in for cup games and pressure moments. Fifty-six appearances over three seasons isn’t bad, especially behind a nailed-on number one. But football never stands still. With Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford arriving, Ortega dropped to third choice and hasn’t played at all this season.
For Forest, the move just makes sense. Ortega comes in as backup to Matz Sels after John Victor’s season-ending knee injury. That says it all, really. Injuries change everything, and having reliable cover is often the difference between staying up or going down.
Forest fans understand the value of a settled keeper. Matz Sels has been steady, but you need more than just one safe pair of hands these days. Ortega’s time at City hints at high training standards and a strong mentality.
He’s joining Forest on a free, though City could end up pocketing £500,000 if certain clauses kick in. For Forest, that’s a low-risk deal. If bonuses get paid, it means Ortega’s playing and probably doing well—hard to complain about that.
This is part of a busy January for Forest. They’ve brought in Lorenzo Lucca on loan, chased Davide Frattesi, and let players like Douglas Luiz move on. The signings aren’t flashy, but they’re clearly focused on what the squad actually needs.
City, for their part, keep reshaping—Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo have come in, and younger players have left. Ortega’s move is just part of that constant cycle.
There’s real value to having a keeper who’s trained every day under Pep Guardiola. Things like positioning, playing out from the back, and staying calm under pressure—City demands that. Forest could pick up some of those habits, even if Ortega isn’t starting every week.
There’s a personal side, too. A player who’s lost his place usually arrives with something to prove. If Ortega gets a chance, you can bet he’ll want to remind everyone why he played for the champions in the first place.
If you’re a Forest fan, this just feels like smart business. Backup goalkeepers don’t grab headlines, but these are the signings that quietly save points. After John Victor got hurt, it was natural to worry about depth. One more injury and things would’ve looked shaky.
Ortega brings a bit of pedigree. Fans remember how calm he was for City in the cups—steady on the ball, quick off his line. Even if he only fills in for a few games, belief in your backup matters. Those relegation scraps can turn on a single late save or a solid game away from home.
Plus, there’s some intrigue about what he’ll bring to the dressing room. Players who’ve been at title-winning clubs can raise the bar, even in training. The younger keepers might learn a thing or two just by watching him go about his business every day.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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