Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of defender Luca Netz from Borussia Monchengladbach on a four-and-a-half-year contract. The left-back arrives after Oleksandr Zinchenko’s loan from Arsenal was cancelled for him to join Ajax instead. According to Bbc.com.
Forest Turn to Netz After Zinchenko Loan Collapse Forces Defensive Rethink
The German defender will provide competition for Neco Williams in Forest’s left-back position following the unexpected departure of Zinchenko. The move represents a shift from short-term loan solutions to longer-term investment for the club currently sitting 17th in the Premier League.
Netz brings substantial top-flight experience despite his young age, having made 124 appearances for Gladbach since joining in 2021. The defender made his Bundesliga debut for Hertha Berlin at just 17 years old and has earned 17 caps for Germany’s Under-21 side.
Forest’s global head of football Edu Gaspar emphasised the strategic nature of the signing, stating that adding talented young players who can grow with the club forms part of their model. He highlighted that despite Netz’s age, the defender has “played well over 100 times at the highest level in Germany”.
The deadline day acquisition comes after Forest failed with three separate bids for Celtic midfielder Arne Engels. Netz expressed his excitement about joining, describing Nottingham Forest as “a great club with a unique history” and stating he was immediately excited by the Premier League opportunity.
The defender’s arrival provides tactical flexibility for Forest, with Gaspar noting that his ability to play on the left side brings balance to their squad for the remainder of the season and beyond.
