Stefan Ortega
Nottingham Forest have bolstered their goalkeeping options by signing Stefan Ortega from Manchester City on a short-term contract. The German goalkeeper was introduced to fans at the City Ground just before Forest’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. The deal, reportedly worth around £500,000, comes as Forest faces a goalkeeper shortage due to injuries.
Stefan Ortega said: “The door was open, and now it’s closed. It didn’t work out. I would have liked to return to Germany. The past few days have been exciting. Now I’m happy to be at Nottingham Forest until the summer.”
Ortega added: “It’s unlucky that John got a long-term injury. That’s why they looked into the market. I’m here to support everyone but to try to challenge everyone as well because I’m still ambitious and want to play as many games as possible. But of course, it’s all about the team.”
Ortega’s arrival at Nottingham Forest comes at a crucial time. The club’s first-choice goalkeeper, Matz Sels, suffered a groin injury during the match against Crystal Palace. This injury forced head coach Sean Dyche to bring Angus Gunn off the bench, marking Gunn’s first appearance for the club. The need for a reliable goalkeeper became even more pressing following the news that summer signing John Victor would be sidelined for an extended period after undergoing knee surgery.
Ortega, who had been considering a move back to Germany, was reportedly on Bayer Leverkusen’s shortlist before they opted for Jonas Omlin from Borussia Mönchengladbach. Despite the missed opportunity to return to his home country, Ortega expressed his excitement about joining Nottingham Forest and contributing to the team’s success.
The addition of Ortega is expected to provide much-needed depth and competition in the goalkeeping department at Forest. With his experience and ambition, Ortega aims to not only support his teammates but also push for as much playing time as possible.
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