Nottingham Forest 2022/23 season preview: How to watch, summer transfers & league prediction

Nottingham Forest are back in the big time after a 23-year absence, with their Premier League return rejuvenating a city that has gone through so much footballing turmoil.

Steve Cooper has taken the team on an incredible journey so far, transforming Forest from Championship relegation contenders to play-off winners in the space of six remarkable months.

The club appear to be intent on ensuring their return isn't a brief one, if this summer's transfer dealings are anything to go by, and you can guarantee that every game played at the City Ground will be contested in front of a raucous capacity crowd.

Here's 90min's preview of Nottingham Forest's season.

How to watch Nottingham Forest on TV

• Nottingham Forest fixtures & results: 2022/23 season
• Premier League fixtures & results: 2022/23 season
• How to watch Premier League fixtures on TV

Nottingham Forest summer transfers

If there's one place you've wanted to be this summer for transfer activity, it's Nottingham Forest.

The club have made huge strides in an attempt to bolster their squad for top flight football, bringing in no less than 13 players to date.

Jesse Lingard, Taiwo Awoniyi, Dean Henderson and Neco Williams are the most high-profile arrivals, while there's also been a number of outgoings - including goalkeeper Brice Samba, who has returned to Ligue 1 with RC Lens.

Ins

• Ryan Hammond - Millwall - undisclosed
• Taiwo Awoniyi - Union Berlin - £17.5m
• Dean Henderson - Manchester United - loan
• Giulian Biancone - Troyes - undisclosed
• Moussa Niakhate - Mainz - undisclosed
• Omar Richards - Bayern Munich - undisclosed
• Neco Williams - Liverpool - undisclosed
• Wayne Hennessey - Burnley - free transfer
• Brandon Aguilera - LD Alajuelense - undisclosed
• Harry Toffolo - Huddersfield - undisclosed
• Lewis O'Brien - Huddersfield - undisclosed
• Jesse Lingard - Manchester United - free transfer
• Orel Mangala - Stuttgart - €15m

Outs

• Tobias Figueiredo - Hull - free transfer
• Carl Jenkinson - released
• Gaetan Bong - released
• Marcelo Valencia - released
• Josh Barnes - released
• Baba Fernandes - released
• Sam Sanders - York City - free transfer
• Morgan Thomas-Sadler - released
• Joe Watkins - released
• Mohamed Drager - FC Luzern - loan
• Jayden Richardson - Aberdeen - undisclosed
• Ethan Horvath - Luton - loan
• Brice Samba - Lens - £4m
• Tyrese Fornah - Reading - loan
• Will Swan - Mansfield - loan
• Jonathan Panzo - Coventry - loan
• Fin Back - Carlisle United - loan
• Lewis Grabban - released
• Riley Harbottle - Mansfield Town - loan
• Brandon Aguilera - Guanacasteca - loan
• Nikolas Ioannou - Como - undisclosed

Nottingham Forest squad numbers 2022/23

Numbers subject to change before end of transfer window

4) Joe Worrall (c)
6) Loic Mbe Soh
8) Jack Colback
12) Jordan Smith
14) Richie Laryea
16) Sam Surridge
17) Alex Mighten
18) Cafu
20) Brennan Johnson
22) Ryan Yates
23) Joe Lolley
26) Scott McKenna
27) Steve Cook
29) Nuno da Costa
33) Lyle Taylor

TBC Taiwo Awoniyi
TBC Giulian Biancone
TBC Dean Henderson
TBC Jesse Lingard
TBC Orel Mangala
TBC Moussa Niakhate
TBC Lewis O'Brien
TBC Omar Richards
TBC Harry Toffolo
TBC Neco Williams

Nottingham Forest key players 2022/23

Star player

Jesse Lingard will hope to make a massive splash at the City Ground after arriving from Manchester United, particularly as he's now the highest-paid player in the club's history.

His goals in attack could be pivotal as club-record signing Taiwo Awoniyi looks to settle in the Premier League, but you can also expect the impressive Brennan Johnson to play a huge role for Steve Cooper's side.

One to watch

Forest have strengthened in all areas of the pitch, seemingly overhauling their entire playing squad, and one of their most important acquisitions could be defensive midfielder Orel Mangala.

Hugely impressive for Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, he arrives in England with a growing reputation - and will be tasked with holding things together in the centre of the park alongside vice-captain Ryan Yates.

Nottingham Forest kits 2022/23

Home kit

Nottingham Forest's traditional red shirts, white shorts and red socks combination will again be rocked in 2022/23, with simplicity very much the order of the day.

Away kit

It's a sparkling yellow and blue combo on the road for Forest this season, which has already been modelled in pre-season.

Third kit

Nottingham Forest Premier League prediction

Despite making a raft of signings, Nottingham Forest have it all to do in what looks like being a fiercely competitive Premier League.

Steve Cooper's side need to get off to a good start and ensure that any momentum generated is positive, but there are difficult games against Tottenham and Manchester City in their opening five fixtures.

Scoring goals shouldn't be a problem, given the talent at Cooper's disposal, but knitting together a squad with so many fresh faces is always difficult - just ask Fulham and Aston Villa in years gone by. It will be close, with a number of teams looking similar on paper, but staying up is potentially a hurdle Forest won't overcome.

Nottingham Forest Premier League prediction - 18th