🔴 Nottingham Forest’s Summer Exodus Continues: Lewis O’Brien Set to Leave as Wrexham Eye Championship Reinforcements
The summer of 2025 promises to be another period of transition and squad reshuffling at Nottingham Forest, as the club continues to recover from the consequences of its bold, and at times reckless, spending spree following its 2022 Premier League promotion. With players still being moved out of the City Ground to make way for a more stable squad under Nuno Espírito Santo, the focus has shifted from new arrivals to getting rid of the unwanted and surplus talent who have found themselves on the fringes of the squad.
Among those looking to depart is Lewis O’Brien, a 26-year-old midfielder who was once considered a key acquisition. After two seasons of sporadic appearances and unsuccessful loan spells, O’Brien looks set to make his exit this summer, with Wrexham AFC, the ambitious Welsh club who have just earned promotion to the Championship, leading the race for his signature.
🏗️ Forest’s Financial Rebuilding: The Hangover from 2022
When Nottingham Forest returned to the Premier League in 2022 for the first time in 23 years, it was a momentous occasion. The club’s ambition was clear, as Forest’s board opened the cheque book in a bid to solidify their top-flight status. The club brought in over 20 new players across multiple positions, hoping to blend experience with youth to build a squad capable of survival.
While Forest’s Premier League survival was secured in their first season, their strategy led to financial chaos. The reckless recruitment, though well-intentioned, left the club with a bloated squad and high wage bills. With the club now operating in the top flight for a second consecutive season, the aftermath of that spending spree is apparent. The squad needs trimming, with several players who were brought in hastily now on the periphery or away on loan.
With Forest already focusing on reducing the squad size and trying to recover some financial balance, there has been a clear shift in priorities under new manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The focus now lies on building a team around a core group of players, trimming the squad of those who no longer fit into the club’s plans.
🚪 The “Bomb Squad” Exits: Players Left Behind
As part of Forest’s ongoing clear-out, several out-of-favour players have been left behind in Nottingham while the first team travels to Portugal for pre-season training. Among these players, Josh Bowler has been widely linked with a move to Reading, while Emmanuel Dennis finds his future uncertain—once a promising attacking option, Dennis now feels like a forgotten man under Nuno’s new regime.
However, it is Lewis O’Brien, the 26-year-old midfielder signed from Huddersfield Town back in 2022, who is making the most headlines right now. O’Brien’s story is one of promise unfulfilled, as his time at Forest has been largely unremarkable despite the potential he showed at Huddersfield.
🧑💼 Lewis O’Brien’s Forest Journey: A Case of Misaligned Expectations
When O’Brien was initially brought to Nottingham Forest, he was hailed as a versatile, hardworking midfielder who could provide balance and energy to a team that lacked depth in the centre of the park. The move seemed logical, as he had been a key player at Huddersfield, helping them reach the Championship play-off final in 2022. His technical abilities, high work rate, and defensive contributions were seen as ideal traits for the Premier League.
However, O’Brien’s time at Forest has largely been disjointed. Despite making 14 appearances in Forest’s first season back in the Premier League, he struggled to establish himself as a regular fixture in the starting lineup. With changes in management, shifting tactical setups, and an ever-changing midfield, O’Brien found it difficult to nail down a starting role and spent most of his time either warming the bench or being sent out on loan.
His first loan spell took him to Middlesbrough in the Championship, where he enjoyed a relatively successful stint. He then moved to Swansea City, hoping to regain the form that made him one of the brightest midfield prospects in the second tier. However, the nature of loan moves, often without a long-term commitment from either side, has made it hard for O’Brien to settle.
In addition, Forest’s constant turnover of managers and the club’s high-profile signings in midfield meant O’Brien was no longer seen as an integral part of the squad. Nuno Espírito Santo, who took charge in 2024, did not include O’Brien in his plans for the summer pre-season tour in Portugal, signaling that his departure was imminent.
🐉 Wrexham AFC: An Ambitious Project on the Rise
As Forest continues to trim its squad, Wrexham AFC has emerged as a serious contender for O’Brien’s signature. The Welsh club, backed by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have seen their fortunes change dramatically in recent years. After three straight promotions, Wrexham has risen from the National League to the Championship, and their owners are making it clear that the club has long-term Premier League aspirations.
Wrexham’s recruitment strategy is built around solid, intelligent acquisitions, and they have targeted players with Championship experience to help them stabilize in the second tier. O’Brien, with his versatility, work rate, and knowledge of the Championship, fits the bill perfectly.
Manager Phil Parkinson, who has overseen Wrexham’s rapid rise, has been a long-time admirer of O’Brien. In the early part of the summer transfer window, Wrexham made an initial approach, but the deal stalled due to personal terms. However, with Forest reportedly willing to lower their asking price, Wrexham are preparing to make a renewed bid.
⚖️ Why a Move to Wrexham Makes Sense for All Parties
For Nottingham Forest, the decision to let O’Brien leave is both pragmatic and necessary. The club needs to clear players who no longer fit into Nuno Espírito Santo’s plans, and O’Brien’s time at Forest has been marked by inconsistent performances and a lack of opportunities. His value will only diminish further if the club opts to continue sending him out on loan without ever settling on a permanent destination.
Forest will likely accept a reduced fee to get O’Brien off the books and avoid yet another season of paying wages to a player who isn’t in their immediate plans. This move would be in line with Forest’s broader financial strategy to balance the books and focus on building a more coherent squad under Nuno Espírito Santo.
For Wrexham, O’Brien represents an ideal signing. He offers the club Championship-quality experience, and his hunger to prove himself in a permanent setting could be just what Wrexham needs to solidify their place in the second tier. He’s also a player who brings leadership and reliability, both qualities that Parkinson is looking for as Wrexham aim to make their mark on the Championship. The financial backing and ambition of Wrexham mean they can meet Forest’s revised asking price and offer O’Brien a long-term home.
For O’Brien himself, moving to Wrexham is a chance to rediscover his career in a stable environment. After years of uncertainty, loans, and lack of regular football, he needs the opportunity to establish himself as a key player once again. A move to a club with clear ambitions and a strong team ethos could be just the platform he needs to reignite his career.
📉 Conclusion: Turning the Page
While it hasn’t worked out for Lewis O’Brien at Nottingham Forest, his potential is still evident. His ability to control midfield and his work ethic make him a valuable asset to a club with the right plans for him. Wrexham represents the perfect opportunity for the midfielder to regain his confidence and establish himself in the Championship, a league in which he has already made his mark.
For Nottingham Forest, cutting ties with O’Brien, while potentially at a loss, is part of the larger rebuilding process. It marks the beginning of the end for the leftover signings from the promotion spree of 2022, and with Nuno Espírito Santo at the helm, the club can finally begin to focus on a sustainable future.
As for Wrexham, their rise continues to captivate the football world, and the signing of players like O’Brien could be the catalyst they need to make their Premier League dream a reality. For all parties involved, this transfer represents a fresh start—a chance to turn the page and write the next chapter of their careers.