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.