CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | Nottingham Forest FC |
| League | Premier League |
| Manager | Oliver Glasner |
| Stadium | City Ground |
| Nickname | The Reds |
| Founded | 1865 |
| Record Signing (Defender) | Ousmane Diomande (£35m from Sporting CP) |
| Key Signing | Daniel Munoz (£22m from Crystal Palace) |
| Returning Loan | Morato (West Ham, option to buy) |
| Academy Prospect | Jair Cunha (under-21, squad exempt) |
The Defining Moment
Nottingham Forest’s defensive rebuild entered 2026/27 with a clarity of purpose that had been absent for years. Oliver Glasner arrived from Crystal Palace with a fixed idea: a back three, ball-playing centre-halves, and wing-backs who cover every blade of grass. The departures of Morato, Zach Abbott and Tyler Bindon on loan left Forest with four natural central defenders — Murillo, Nikola Milenković, Ousmane Diomande and Jair Cunha — and a conviction that this was sufficient.
The defining moment came in early August, when Forest completed the £35 million signing of Diomande from Sporting CP. The Ivorian international, a two-time Portuguese league champion, was not a luxury addition. He was the final piece of Glasner’s defensive jigsaw, the physical, aerially dominant presence the Austrian believed his back line lacked.
The Athletic’s analysis was precise: Diomande was signed to complement Murillo’s pace and ball-carrying with height and set-piece presence, and to partner Milenković’s leadership and aerial strength with recovery speed. Glasner had his back three. What he did not have, at least initially, was depth.
Daniel Munoz arrived from Crystal Palace for £22 million to solve the right wing-back problem. Neco Williams and Ola Aina remained, offering options on both flanks. The squad was smaller than the one that had cycled through four managers the previous season, but Glasner believed it was stronger.
This is the story of Nottingham Forest’s 2026/27 defenders: a Brazilian ball-player, a Serbian warrior, an Ivorian destroyer, and a supporting cast of wing-backs learning to cover ground in a system that demands everything of them.
Tactical Context
Glasner’s system is unforgiving for defenders. At Crystal Palace, he built a back three of complementary profiles: Marc Guehi’s intelligence, Chris Richards’ aerial power, and Maxence Lacroix’s height and distribution. The wing-backs were the most demanding roles in the team — up with the front line in possession, back supporting the defensive line out of it.
Forest’s adaptation to this structure has been gradual. In the opening weeks, the back three of Murillo, Milenković and Jair Cunha featured in the 3-1 victory over Manchester City, with Munoz and Williams as the wing-backs. The result suggested the system was beginning to function.
The statistical picture is mixed. Across the first eight league matches, Forest conceded ten goals — 1.25 per game — and kept just one clean sheet. The defensive record was mid-table, neither catastrophic nor convincing. The underlying numbers suggested a team still learning the positional demands of Glasner’s structure.
The wing-backs have borne a heavy load. Aina and Williams, in particular, have been asked to cover ground that would exhaust most players. Munoz’s arrival was intended to share that burden, and his 2.67 tackles per match in the early season indicated a willingness to engage defensively that Glasner values.
The concern is squad depth. With Morato and Abbott on loan, Forest have four senior centre-backs for three positions. Glasner has acknowledged that Ryan Yates and Nicolo Savona can drop into the back line if required, but neither is a natural fit. An injury to Murillo or Milenković would force a reshuffle that the squad may not be equipped to absorb.
The Defenders
Murillo
Murillo is the most gifted defender Forest have possessed in a generation. The Brazilian, still only 24, combines pace, acceleration and a capacity to carry the ball out of defence that few centre-halves in the Premier League can match. His partnership with Milenković has been the foundation of Forest’s defensive improvement over the past two seasons.
His profile is that of the modern ball-playing centre-back. He is not the tallest, and his heading ability is not his strongest attribute, but his recovery speed allows him to defend space that others cannot, and his distribution initiates attacks from deep. In Glasner’s system, he is the left-sided centre-back, the player expected to step into midfield and break lines.
The numbers reflect his importance. Across the opening phase of the season, Murillo started six of Forest’s first eight league matches, completing 538 minutes. His tackles per match were modest — 1.33 in the early weeks — but his value lies in positioning and progression rather than confrontation.
The concern is aerial vulnerability. Against teams that target the back post, Murillo’s height can be exploited. Glasner’s signing of Diomande was, in part, a response to this weakness — a taller, more physically imposing partner to shield Murillo from the most direct aerial challenges.
Nikola Milenković
Milenković is the leader of Forest’s defence. The Serbian international, standing 6’5″, is the aerial dominator, the player who wins the headers that Murillo cannot, the organiser who marshals the back three. His partnership with Murillo is one of complementary contrasts: silk and steel, pace and power.
His early-season numbers were impressive. In three starts, he recorded a rating of 7.08, the highest among Forest’s defenders. His tackles per match were modest — 1.25 — but his value is not measured in tackles. It is measured in the headers cleared, the strikers unsettled, the positions held.
At 29, Milenković is in his prime. His experience in Serie A and the Premier League has forged a defender of rare composure. When Forest needed a leader in the defensive line, he provided it.
Ousmane Diomande
Diomande is the new arrival, the £35 million signing from Sporting CP who was tasked with completing Glasner’s back three. The Ivorian international, still only 22, arrived with a pedigree: two Portuguese league titles, a World Cup appearance, and 132 appearances for one of Europe’s most respected talent-producing clubs.
His profile is that of the modern physical defender. At 6’3″, he offers height and presence that Forest lacked. He is comfortable on the ball — Sporting’s academy demands it — and his recovery speed is adequate for the demands of Glasner’s high line. The Athletic’s analysis suggested he would add “height and physical presence” and help Forest “thrive from set pieces at both ends of the pitch.”
His integration has been gradual. In the early weeks, he featured primarily as a substitute or in rotation, his minutes limited as he adapted to the pace of the Premier League. The expectation is that he will become a starter, but the partnership with Murillo and Milenković requires time to develop.
Jair Cunha
Cunha is the youngest of the central defensive options, a 21-year-old Brazilian who does not count towards the 25-man squad limit due to his age. His presence in the first team reflects both his potential and Forest’s need for depth.
His early-season involvement was limited but meaningful. He started the 3-1 victory over Manchester City alongside Murillo and Milenković, a vote of confidence from Glasner in his ability to handle the biggest occasions. His development will be monitored closely, with the expectation that he will eventually challenge for a regular starting role.
Neco Williams
Williams is the left wing-back, the player tasked with covering the most ground in Glasner’s system. The Welsh international, 25, has the engine and the willingness to fulfil the role, though his defensive positioning has been questioned at times.
His early-season numbers were respectable. In eight appearances, he completed 713 minutes, recording a rating of 6.77. His tackles per match — 1.88 — were higher than any other Forest defender except Schlager and Munoz, a reflection of the defensive workload the wing-back role demands.
The concern is end product. Williams’ crossing and final-ball quality have been inconsistent, and in a system that relies on wing-backs for width, that inconsistency limits Forest’s attacking threat.
Ola Aina
Aina is the right wing-back, the experienced head in a youthful defensive unit. The Nigerian international, 30, offers a different profile to Williams: more defensively solid, less explosive going forward, but reliable in the duels that the role demands.
His early-season numbers were solid. In five appearances, he recorded a rating of 6.18 and 2.40 tackles per match. He is not the most glamorous player in the squad, but he is one of the most dependable.
Daniel Munoz
Munoz arrived from Crystal Palace for £22 million to provide competition and quality at right wing-back. The Colombian international, 30, was a key part of Glasner’s Palace side, and his familiarity with the system was a significant factor in the signing.
His early-season numbers were encouraging. In six appearances, he recorded a rating of 6.44 and 2.67 tackles per match, the second-highest among Forest’s defenders. His experience and understanding of the role make him a likely starter as the season progresses.
Nicolo Savona
Savona is the utility option, a defender comfortable at full-back or in the back three. The Italian, 23, arrived from Juventus and has been used sparingly in the early weeks, but his versatility is valued by Glasner. His ability to cover multiple positions makes him a valuable squad member in a season where depth is limited.
The Numbers Game
Table A: Nottingham Forest Defender Premier League Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Rating | Tackles/Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murillo | 6 (6) | 538 | 6.75 | 1.33 |
| Nikola Milenković | 3 (3) | 270 | 7.08 | 1.25 |
| Ousmane Diomande | 4 (4) | 343 | 6.73 | 1.00 |
| Jair Cunha | 4 (4) | 360 | 6.77 | — |
| Neco Williams | 8 (8) | 713 | 6.77 | 1.88 |
| Ola Aina | 5 (5) | 388 | 6.18 | 2.40 |
| Daniel Munoz | 6 (6) | 474 | 6.44 | 2.67 |
Table B: Nottingham Forest Defence – Key Metrics (2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Conceded per Game | 1.25 | Mid-table among PL defences |
| Clean Sheets | 1 | In first eight league matches |
| Natural Centre-Backs | 4 | Murillo, Milenković, Diomande, Cunha |
| Wing-Backs Used | 4 | Williams, Aina, Munoz, Savona |
| Loan Departures | 3 | Morato, Abbott, Bindon |
Table C: Defender Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murillo | Brazil | Corinthians | Ball-playing centre-back, pace, recovery speed |
| Nikola Milenković | Serbia | Fiorentina | Aerial dominator, leader, positional |
| Ousmane Diomande | Ivory Coast | Sporting CP | Physical, ball-playing, set-piece threat |
| Jair Cunha | Brazil | Santos | Young, developing, squad depth |
| Neco Williams | Wales | Liverpool | Attacking wing-back, engine, inconsistent delivery |
| Ola Aina | Nigeria | Torino | Defensive wing-back, reliable, experienced |
| Daniel Munoz | Colombia | Crystal Palace | Glasner-system familiar, tackling, experience |
| Nicolo Savona | Italy | Juventus | Utility defender, versatile, squad option |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Forest’s defensive unit is a study in Glasner’s philosophy. The back three of Murillo, Milenković and Diomande offers a blend of attributes that the Austrian believes is essential: pace, aerial dominance, ball-playing ability and leadership. It is not a perfect trio — no defensive unit is — but it is one constructed with intention rather than accident.
The wing-backs are the system’s engine and its vulnerability. Williams and Aina have covered ground relentlessly, but their end product has been inconsistent. Munoz’s arrival offers a more reliable option on the right, and Savona provides cover on both flanks. The concern is that in a system that demands so much from two positions, an injury to Williams or Munoz would leave Forest exposed.
The depth behind the starting three is thin. Cunha is young and developing. Yates can drop into the back line if required, but he is a midfielder by trade. Savona is comfortable in a back three, but he is not a natural centre-back. An injury to Murillo or Milenković would force Glasner into a reshuffle that the squad may not be equipped to absorb.
The January window may offer an opportunity to add another central defender, but Forest’s financial constraints — PSR rules and the need to balance the squad — make significant investment unlikely. Glasner must work with what he has: a talented but thin defensive group, learning a demanding system in the unforgiving environment of the Premier League.
The Verdict from the Camp
Oliver Glasner, on his defensive system (pre-season):
“I have a vision in my head how I want to see us playing but this has to be aligned with the players we have and what the players are capable of.”
The Athletic, on the Diomande signing:
“Diomande is seen as a player who can add to the qualities of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic… to create something similar at the City Ground. Milenkovic is a leader and a dominant defender who is strong aerially, but who is not the fastest. Equally, Murillo’s heading ability is not his biggest asset, but he has pace and acceleration, can play out from the back, carry the ball and is a capable defender.”
The Athletic, on defensive depth:
“Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Diomande and Jair Cunha are their only natural central defenders, following loan moves away for Morato, Zach Abbott and Tyler Bindon. But Forest have other players who can slot into the back three, if required. Nicolo Savona is comfortable there, as is — on the right side in particular — Ola Aina. Ryan Yates is also capable of dropping into the back line and the club believe they have sufficient cover.”
Where Next?
Forest’s defensive priority is clear: they need the back three to gel, and they need the wing-backs to deliver consistent end product. The raw materials are there — Murillo’s talent, Milenković’s leadership, Diomande’s physicality — but the system requires time and repetition to become instinctive.
The development of Diomande is the most intriguing subplot. If the Ivorian can establish himself as a reliable starter alongside Murillo and Milenković, Forest possess one of the more balanced back threes in the division. If he struggles to adapt, Glasner may be forced to rely on Cunha or a makeshift solution.
The January window may offer an opportunity to add depth, but the club’s financial situation suggests that any additions will be pragmatic rather than transformative. For now, Forest’s defenders are a unit defined by potential rather than proven cohesion — a talented trio learning a demanding system, supported by wing-backs who cover every blade of grass, and a manager who believes the structure will hold.
