Nottingham Forest operates a £82.9 million wage bill for 2025-26, ranking ninth in the Premier League. Douglas Luiz leads the Tricky Trees at £150,000 weekly (£7.8 million annually) following his January 2025 loan from Aston Villa, with Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White joint-second earning £100,000 per week.
The City Ground club employs 28 first-team players with an average salary of £56,900 weekly, matching Premier League standards. Four Forest players earn over £100,000 per week, representing the highest wage bill in the club’s 160-year history.
Access complete Nottingham Forest squad information through detailed player biography and net worth profiles for each team member.
| Player Name | Position | Nationality |
| Wayne Hennessey | Goalkeeper | Wales |
| Matz Sels | Goalkeeper | Belgium |
| Carlos Miguel | Goalkeeper | Brazil |
| Morato | Defender | Brazil |
| Murillo | Defender | Brazil |
| Neco Williams | Defender | Wales |
| Harry Toffolo | Defender | England |
| Álex Moreno | Defender | Spain |
| Willy Boly | Defender | Ivory Coast |
| Nikola Milenkovic | Defender | Serbia |
| Ola Aina | Defender | Nigeria |
| Zach Abbott | Defender | England |
| Ibrahim Sangaré | Midfielder | Ivory Coast |
| Elliot Anderson | Midfielder | England |
| Morgan Gibbs-White | Midfielder | England |
| Nicolás Domínguez | Midfielder | Argentina |
| Ryan Yates | Midfielder | England |
| Danilo | Midfielder | Brazil |
| Joel Ndala | Forward | England |
| Taiwo Awoniyi | Forward | Nigeria |
| Chris Wood | Forward | New Zealand |
| Callum Hudson-Odoi | Forward | England |
| Eric Da Silva Moreira | Forward | Germany |
| Jota Silva | Forward | Portugal |
| Anthony Elanga | Forward | Sweden |
| Ramón Sosa | Forward | Paraguay |
Top 10 Highest-Paid Nottingham Forest Players
Forest’s wage structure balances experienced Premier League veterans with emerging talents. Luiz’s loan arrival dramatically increased the wage ceiling previously capped around £80,000-£100,000.
| Player | Position | Weekly Salary | Annual Salary | Contract Until |
| Douglas Luiz | Midfielder | £150,000 | £7.8 million | 2030 (Villa) |
| Chris Wood | Forward | £100,000 | £5.2 million | 2027 |
| Morgan Gibbs-White | Midfielder | £100,000 | £5.2 million | 2028 |
| Nikola Milenković | Defender | £105,000 | £5.5 million | 2029 |
| Dan Ndoye | Winger | £84,000 | £4.4 million | 2030 |
| Callum Hudson-Odoi | Winger | £80,000 | £4.2 million | 2026 |
| Oleksandr Zinchenko | Defender | £75,000 | £3.9 million | 2026 |
| Ibrahim Sangaré | Midfielder | £75,000 | £3.9 million | 2028 |
| Neco Williams | Defender | £65,000 | £3.4 million | 2029 |
| Nicolò Savona | Defender | £60,000 | £3.1 million | 2030 |
Six players tied at £50,000 weekly create squad depth. Wood’s £100,000 salary justifies his status as Forest’s all-time Premier League top scorer.
Premier League Wage Bill Rankings
Forest’s £82.9 million expenditure ranks ninth in the Premier League, ahead of Brighton (£58.1M), Fulham (£74.9M), and mid-table clubs. The Tricky Trees spend approximately 40% of Manchester City’s £209.7 million.
The £56,900 average weekly salary matches the Premier League’s overall mean. Forest’s wage-to-revenue ratio sits around 55-60%, sustainable given Evangelos Marinakis’ investment but requiring continued top-flight survival.
The £82.9 million represents Forest’s highest-ever wage bill, tripling their Championship spending. This reflects aggressive Premier League investment ensuring survival beyond initial promotion.
Richest Nottingham Forest Players by Net Worth
Forest’s squad includes players who built wealth through previous Premier League careers. Most maintain moderate fortunes through consistent top-flight earnings.
| Player | Position | Estimated Net Worth | Age | Previous Major Clubs |
| Douglas Luiz | Midfielder | $30 million | 27 | Aston Villa, Manchester City |
| Oleksandr Zinchenko | Defender | $25 million | 28 | Arsenal, Manchester City |
| Chris Wood | Forward | $20 million | 33 | Newcastle, Burnley |
| Callum Hudson-Odoi | Winger | $18 million | 24 | Chelsea |
| Morgan Gibbs-White | Midfielder | $12 million | 25 | Wolves, Sheffield United |
Luiz accumulated $30 million through Manchester City and Aston Villa contracts earning £80,000-£150,000 weekly. His Forest loan maintains Villa wages while providing regular playing time.
Zinchenko built $25 million across Manchester City (£100,000/week) and Arsenal (£150,000/week) before Forest’s loan deal. His experience provides defensive leadership.
Wood’s $20 million came through Premier League consistency at Burnley, Newcastle, and Forest earning £50,000-£100,000 weekly over 14 years.
Position-Based Salary Analysis
Forest’s wage allocation emphasizes attacking output and midfield creativity. Nuno Espírito Santo’s system requires technical quality and defensive organization.
Midfield Investment: £28.1 million combined (Luiz, Gibbs-White, Sangaré, Yates, Anderson lead)
Forward Spending: £13.5 million total (Wood, Awoniyi, Kalimuendo highest)
Defensive Wages: £32 million combined (Milenković, Zinchenko, Williams, Savona, Murillo)
Goalkeeping: £2.6 million total (Sels £2.6M provides value)
The defensive-heavy allocation reflects Forest’s survival strategy emphasizing organization. Seven defenders earn £35,000-£105,000 weekly, creating depth for Premier League competition.
Luiz’s £7.8 million represents 9.4% of Forest’s wage bill despite being on loan. His creativity provides playmaking quality elevating Forest’s European qualification ambitions.
Performance Bonuses and Contract Incentives
Forest structures contracts with substantial survival bonuses given recent promotion. Premier League survival bonuses reach £500,000-£1 million per player when secured.
Top-half finish bonuses add £300,000-£700,000 if achieved, Forest’s current ambition. European qualification bonuses would reach £500,000-£1.2 million for Conference League spots.
Goal bonuses reward attackers £40,000-£100,000 per season based on targets. Wood’s contract includes substantial scoring incentives given his £100,000 base salary.
Clean sheet bonuses pay defenders £25,000-£60,000 for meeting defensive metrics. Forest’s improved defensive record creates regular bonus triggers.
FAQs
Which player tops Forest’s wage structure currently?
Douglas Luiz earns £150,000 weekly (£7.8 million annually) on loan from Aston Villa. His salary is covered by Villa but counts toward Forest’s squad limit, making him the club’s technical highest earner.
What does Forest spend annually on player wages?
The club’s 2025-26 wage expenditure totals £82.9 million, ranking ninth in the Premier League. This represents Forest’s highest-ever wage bill, tripling Championship spending levels.
What are Chris Wood’s earnings at Forest?
Wood receives £100,000 weekly (£5.2 million annually) through 2027. His salary justifies his status as Forest’s all-time Premier League top scorer and consistent goal-scoring threat.
How sustainable is Forest’s current wage spending?
Forest’s £82.9 million wage bill represents approximately 55-60% of revenues. While higher than ideal, this ratio remains sustainable with continued Premier League participation and Marinakis ownership backing.
What’s the average Forest player salary compared to league standards?
Forest’s £56,900 average weekly wage matches the Premier League mean precisely. This positions them as standard mid-table spenders, neither extravagant nor bargain-basement in player compensation.
