Nottingham Forest are reportedly eyeing a late January swoop for Manchester City star Stefan Ortega.
Stefan Ortega’s situation at Manchester City has quietly but decisively reached its conclusion. Once a trusted and highly effective deputy at the Etihad, the German goalkeeper has slipped completely out of Pep Guardiola’s matchday thinking this season, following a reshuffle in City’s goalkeeping department.
With Gianluigi Donnarumma, James Trafford, and Marcus Bettinelli now forming Guardiola’s preferred goalkeeping group, Ortega has found himself training on the periphery, without a single competitive appearance this campaign. For a goalkeeper of his quality and experience, remaining in such limbo was never going to be a long-term option.
According to Florian Plettenberg via X, Nottingham Forest have emerged as serious contenders to offer Ortega a fresh start. The Premier League relegation-battlers are said to have reached a verbal agreement with the 33-year-old and are now pushing to strike a deal with Manchester City before the window closes. Talks between the clubs are ongoing, with Forest hopeful of wrapping things up imminently.
From Ortega’s perspective, the move makes perfect sense. Despite accepting his role at City amid inevitable changes between the posts, his contribution during previous seasons should not be underestimated. The 33-year-old delivered calm, high-level performances when called upon and played his part in sustaining Manchester City’s dominance during a trophy-laden period.
However, goalkeepers do not thrive on training ground plaudits alone, and Ortega is far too capable to spend another half-season watching from the sidelines. A switch to Nottingham Forest could offer exactly what he needs: responsibility, rhythm, and relevance.
Forest are locked in a battle for Premier League survival, and securing a goalkeeper of Ortega’s pedigree could prove decisive. His shot-stopping, composure under pressure, and experience at the highest level would instantly put him in contention to become Forest’s number one.
From Manchester City’s standpoint, the timing also aligns. After investing heavily in their goalkeeping options, allowing Ortega to leave before the deadline would ease squad congestion and give a loyal servant the chance to revive his career elsewhere. With interest from multiple clubs reportedly on the table, Forest appear to be moving fastest and most decisively.
This feels like one of those transfers that simply makes sense for everyone involved. Ortega deserves to be playing regularly, not fading quietly into the background after years of elite-level consistency. For Nottingham Forest, this could be the kind of understated but season-defining signing that keeps them in the Premier League.
If the deal goes through, it may not dominate headlines, but it could have a huge impact where it matters most, on the pitch. However, with recent reports linking the 33-year-old German shot-stopper with other well-known clubs, including Celtic, Nottingham Forest must wrap up the deal quickly.