Nottingham Forest Close in on Pablo Maffeo as Club Gears Up for European Campaign
Nottingham Forest are on the verge of completing a smart and calculated move for Spanish full-back Pablo Maffeo, with personal terms already agreed and a £5.1 million bid submitted to RCD Mallorca. The deal, which now hinges solely on the Spanish club’s final approval, could mark the beginning of a transformative summer for Forest as they prepare for a historic return to European football.
With manager Nuno Espírito Santo spearheading a rebuild, the Tricky Trees are looking to add depth, experience, and quality across the pitch. And with European football on the calendar for the 2025–26 season—via qualification to the UEFA Europa Conference League—the pressure is on to ensure the squad is ready for the dual demands of domestic and continental competition.
This summer, the club is focused not just on strengthening, but on elevating standards—bringing in players with European experience, technical ability, and tactical versatility. Pablo Maffeo fits that bill perfectly.
A Summer of Significance for Nottingham Forest
After years of battling to re-establish themselves in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest are now beginning to dream bigger. Their qualification for the Europa Conference League marks the club’s first European campaign since 1995–96, and expectations have shifted from mere survival to strategic growth.
Forest are not rushing into marquee signings or expensive experiments. Instead, there’s a strong sense of structure to their recruitment. Espírito Santo has outlined clear positional targets, with an emphasis on wide players and full-backs, following several first-team departures at the end of the previous campaign.
Having lost both Alex Moreno and Harry Toffolo, the club is left with a shortage at full-back. The right side, in particular, requires reinforcement, especially with the demands of European midweeks looming. Pablo Maffeo, then, has emerged as a leading candidate—and all signs now point toward the 28-year-old making the move to the City Ground in the coming days.
Maffeo’s Journey: From Manchester to Mallorca via Stuttgart
Maffeo is no stranger to English football. A product of Manchester City’s renowned youth academy, he broke into the senior squad during Pep Guardiola’s early years at the club. Guardiola even handed him his senior debut in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest in 2016, highlighting the early trust placed in the young defender.
Though first-team opportunities were limited, Maffeo made three senior appearances for City and featured in preseason tours alongside world-class talent. However, like many of his academy peers, he found the pathway to regular football at the Etihad blocked by elite-level signings and tactical competition.
In 2018, he was sold to VfB Stuttgart in a club-record £8.8 million transfer, a deal that raised eyebrows in both England and Germany. Unfortunately, injuries and system changes limited his impact in the Bundesliga. But rather than fade away, Maffeo adapted—returning to Spain and rebuilding his career with spells at Girona and ultimately RCD Mallorca.
Over the past four seasons at Mallorca, Maffeo has established himself as one of La Liga’s most consistent right-backs. Known for his positional discipline, aggressive duels, and surprising attacking contribution, he’s become a dependable figure in a Mallorca side that has often punched above its weight.
Last season, Maffeo made 31 league appearances, winning plaudits for his reliability and leadership. At 28, he’s at the peak of his powers and ready for a fresh challenge—one that Forest are offering with the allure of Premier League football and European competition.
Why Maffeo Makes Sense for Forest
Forest’s playing style under Espírito Santo is built on compact defending, swift transitions, and wide play. In this system, full-backs play a dual role: they are expected to defend narrow in deeper phases but also provide width when Forest hit on the counter.
Maffeo suits this perfectly. He is positionally intelligent, hard-working, and comfortable both in 1v1 defensive duels and going forward. He may not be the flashiest full-back, but his work rate and maturity are valuable attributes—especially in European fixtures where small margins decide matches.
He also brings experience: with appearances in the Champions League, Bundesliga, and La Liga, Maffeo has faced some of Europe’s best. That kind of pedigree could prove vital in navigating unfamiliar Conference League fixtures across the continent.
Additionally, the fee—reported to be around £5.1 million—represents solid value in a market where full-backs with top-level experience often command significantly higher prices.
Shifting Focus After Failed Winger Pursuits
While the Maffeo deal edges closer to completion, Forest are still working to resolve another major transfer headache: the winger conundrum.
The club had hoped to sign Timothy Weah and Samuel Mbangula, but both deals have fallen through due to either contractual disagreements or the players’ personal decisions. These setbacks have forced Espírito Santo to recalibrate, and the club’s recruitment team has now turned its attention to Barış Alper Yılmaz—a name that’s been gaining traction across Europe.
The Galatasaray winger had a standout 2024–25 season, scoring 14 goals and providing 6 assists, helping the Turkish giants to another title challenge. At 24, he’s approaching his prime and offers explosive pace, quick feet, and the ability to play across the front three. His versatility makes him an ideal fit for Forest, who want wide players capable of doubling as secondary forwards when needed.
Though negotiations are still at an early stage, sources close to the club suggest that Forest could be preparing a formal approach in the coming weeks. With the Maffeo situation close to resolution, attention is expected to shift quickly to the flanks.
Espírito Santo’s Vision and Club Strategy
Behind the scenes, the atmosphere at Forest has changed. After narrowly avoiding the drop and enduring managerial instability, Nuno Espírito Santo was brought in not just to steady the ship, but to redefine the club’s identity.
The Portuguese tactician, known for his success at Wolverhampton Wanderers, thrives in systems built on discipline and hard-running wing play. His recruitment philosophy is methodical—targeting proven professionals with winning mentalities and European exposure.
Forest’s hierarchy has bought into that vision, with the club’s recruitment department now far more aligned with the manager’s blueprint. The days of scattered signings and disconnected scouting appear to be over. Instead, Forest are building for the future—while staying competitive in the now.
The pursuit of Maffeo, a steady and experienced full-back, rather than a big-name signing, illustrates that long-term planning. At 28, he can still give Forest three or four solid seasons and serve as a mentor to younger full-backs in the squad.
European Ambitions and Squad Readiness
Forest’s European qualification is a watershed moment. The Europa Conference League may not have the prestige of the Champions League, but it provides clubs like Forest an invaluable platform to grow, test themselves against new styles, and attract a different tier of player.
But the European adventure also brings logistical challenges. The squad must cope with Thursday-Sunday turnarounds, longer travel, and squad rotation. Depth becomes not a luxury, but a necessity.
Forest know they cannot enter that battle unprepared. The squad currently lacks adequate depth at full-back and in wide positions, and injuries or fatigue could derail both their Premier League and European ambitions.
That’s why the Maffeo deal matters. And that’s why the hunt for two new wingers remains urgent.
What’s Next for Forest?
Should the Maffeo transfer be finalized in the coming days, he will likely join Forest for the beginning of preseason training in mid-July. That gives Espírito Santo ample time to integrate the Spaniard into his system before the competitive season kicks off.
Forest are also expected to announce at least one more defensive signing—possibly a backup left-back or another centre-half—with talks ongoing behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, attention will turn swiftly to attacking reinforcements. The club’s scouting team has drawn up a shortlist that includes Yılmaz, as well as several lesser-known talents from France, Portugal, and Eastern Europe.
Preseason friendlies, European draws, and domestic fixtures will all come thick and fast—and Forest know they need their business wrapped up early to avoid playing catch-up.
Final Thoughts: A Club on the Rise
For the first time in over two decades, Nottingham Forest are not just reacting—they are planning, building, and believing. The appointment of Nuno Espírito Santo brought clarity. The return to Europe has brought ambition. And now, strategic transfers like that of Pablo Maffeo reflect a club looking not just to survive—but to grow.
Maffeo might not grab headlines like a £40m winger or a superstar striker, but make no mistake—this could prove to be one of Forest’s smartest acquisitions of the summer. A battle-hardened full-back with experience at the highest levels of the game, he is exactly the kind of player a club needs to thrive in Europe.
And as Forest look ahead to an exciting 2025–26 campaign, fans can finally dream again—not just of nights under the lights