Liberato Cacace – Empoli (Italian Serie A)

What do ya know, last game of the season and even though Empoli did make three changes from last week’s match... Liberato Cacace was not one of them. He retained his spot against Lazio, getting another ninety minutes. There was to be no farewell for Fabiano Parisi and you know what that tells us? It tells us that the Libby Cacace Era has already begun.

Nothing has changed as far as Parisi goes. He’s still being linked with every big club in the country and his agent has been saying for at least six months that the bloke won’t be at Empoli next season. If he’s played his final game for the club, and it looks like he has, then there should be a decent fee coming back the other way. Plus more to the point this clears the path for Cacace to assume numero uno duties on the left side of defence just like his coach has suggested was the plan all along. Hence why, as soon as they officially dodged relegation, he was straight into the team for the last two games.

The Verona match served up potentially his best attacking performance since he left the Wellington Phoenix. That’s been one aspect of his game that hadn’t really translated but last week offered plenty of encouragement that he’s gotten there now. This week they played Lazio though, a much sterner task against Maurizio Sarri’s men, requiring a lot more defensive mahi. Lots of trying to pass the ball out under pressure, usually with a slick nudge up the line. Plenty of tucking in and protecting that space behind him. Having said that he did unleash one absolute rocket of a shot against a loose ball in the area after about quarter of an hour... it was blocked but mate he crunched it.

For about the first half hour this was a close game with very few chances. Then Lazio began to twist. Cacace made a very important point blank block to deflect a Ciro Immobile shot over. Empoli did knuckle down until half-time but then conceded straight after it as Alessio Romagnoli flicked in a header from a corner. Following that we had some real Last Day Of School vibes as both teams ran out the subs, including Empoli replacing their goalkeeper late on, but an equaliser never really looked likely. In fact Empoli polished off their season by getting a red card with a minute to go then conceding in stoppage time. Luis Alberto with the goal. 2-0 to Lazio, who therefore finish in second place. But more importantly first eleven status now beckons for Liberato Cacace. Serie A is officially on notice.

Up Next: Cacace’s already a first eleven player for the All Whites, who play Sweden and Qatar the week after next

Jacqui Hand - Åland United (Finnish Kansallinen Liiga)

Another one where all the others came from. Jacqui Hand is unstoppable and so, apparently, are Åland United as the club hauled in yet another chunky win-to-nil. They put five past TPS away from home. Hand played the full thing although spent most of the game on the wings as chances (and goals) fell elsewhere. Good sign of a strong team that they’re spreading things out with five different goal-scorers in this match. But Hand was not to be denied, popping up with one of her own in the second minute of stoppage time to put the sealer on the 5-0 victory.

Åland United are now on a six game winning streak and five of those wins have been by at least three goals to nil. They’re the top scoring team in the division with the best goal difference and sit second on the ladder only three points behind usual big donnies HJK who are on a similarly deep winning run (without scoring quiiite as many goals – although they did win 5-0 this week as well). Within that, Jacqui Hand has managed to score six times which has her tied for the league’s golden boot (at this early stage) alongside Lotta Lindström of HJK. She’s also currently fourth on the Kansallinen Liiga MVP standings. The form is immaculate... and even in a game like this where she was far from the main source for her team she’s still finding a way to get on the scoresheet.

Up Next: Åland United vs Honka at 2am on Sunday (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eerste Divisie)

It was always likely that Ryan Thomas would re-sign with PEC Zwolle after helping lead the club to Eredivisie promotion (and also himself back to regular football after the injury troubles). Turns out it was actually a guarantee because there was an automatic extension clause in his contract for that exact eventuality. Zwolle got promoted, Thommo got another year on his deal. He’ll be back with Zwolle again next season and he’ll be back in the Dutch top flight too.

Ryan Thomas: “I am very happy that my return to PEC Zwolle has been received so well and that we have achieved our goal of immediately returning to the Eredivisie. The supporters were great last season and I'm sure we can achieve something great again next season too.”

PEC Technical director Marcel Boudesteyn: “Ryan's return has worked out very well. Primarily for Ryan himself. He has gotten fit again and has found the joy of playing football again. In addition, he has shown that he is very important to the team. With his experience and technical qualities, he played a major role in our promotion run during the second half of the season. The fact that we are now entering the Eredivisie together is fantastic for both Ryan and PEC.”

That’s what we wanna see. Well, that and also Ryan Thomas back in the All Whites... but that last bit can wait awhile longer, no hurry.

Up Next: It’s all good now with that contract sorted out

Matthew Garbett - NAC Breda (Dutch Eerste Divisie)

Ryan Thomas has made his way into the Eredivisie. Now it remained to see if Matt Garbett could follow him. NAC Breda’s first round playoff tie against MVV looked slippery when they only won 1-0 in a dominant home performance but then they rolled them away for a 5-1 aggregate victory. Following that they took on FC Emmen in the semis, the sixteenth placed Eredivisie club (whose top flight position these clubs are all competing for). First leg was at home on Thursday morning NZT.

Unfortunately for Breda, the visitors started in a big hurry and with plenty of confidence. They’d already created several chances before Lorenzo Burnet crunched in a slow shot from the edge of the area on 24’, coming after some slick combo work down the right before the cut-back cross. Before the half was done, Ole Romeny headed in from a free kick, getting there ahead of the goalie on the angle. It was looking disastrous at this point. Matt Garbett’s main contribution was getting himself a yellow card...

Yeah, no arguments here.

But Garbs did help forge a decent moment of attack before the break and then a couple of changes at the half spurred Breda on further. Much better second stanza... although frustration was definitely setting in as they failed to get anything to show for it. Some desperate penalty shouts. Panicky shots, including a couple from Garbett. Eventually they did get a goal – Aime Ntsama Omgba deep into stoppage time. Heavily deflected effort after a corner kick (that had been won thanks to a delicious dinked through ball by Garbett that wasn’t fully capitalised upon) but hey they all count the same.

That meant a 2-1 home leg defeat and a very difficult prospect ahead of them to turn that around. A prospect which, in the end, was a step too far. For a long time they were within a goal of forcing extra time but they rarely looked like they could score that crucial goal. Only seven total shots and just one on target. Garbett tried an early touch-and-volley but it flew wild. Didn’t help that top striker Elias Mar Omarsson was only fit enough to play half of each game.

Garbett fizzed another over the top at the start of the second spell, much closer this time but still not forcing a save. He’d end up being subbed off for the last quarter of this match just a little bit after the one thing that NAC really couldn’t afford had happened: they conceded. Richairo Zivkovic after 62 mins. Too much space on the right and he unleashed a wicked strike to make it 3-1 on aggregate. Absolute killer for Breda... hence the funky, despairing reshuffles off the bench.

It didn’t happen for them. Emmen scored again right at the very end (another banger, though with 15 seconds remaining it didn’t make a diffo). Count it as a 2-0 defeat on the day. A 4-1 defeat on aggregate. NAC Breda will remain in the Eerste Divisie next season.

They had a good chance to get promoted but that untimely Omarsson injury and a few creative struggles held them back. Can’t complain when the better team advanced, just gotta come back again next time and close the gap (maybe get it done automatically rather than through the playoffs too, that always helps). This does change the perspective of Garbett’s move becoming a permanent one – second tier footy is a big drop from first tier footy, after all. But Garbett is an active part of all this. He was a regular throughout the playoffs as this team were well beaten by Emmen and if they weren’t good enough then they weren’t good enough. Simple as that. Garbett had a goal and five assists in his first eight games for NAC Breda but had no goals and no assists in his next ten including the playoffs.

Still, this was a really competitive team over the second half of the campaign and having done good work in locking up their best players for the next term they should back themselves to go deeper. And Garbett’s only going to be more embedded in this squad once he’s had a full preseason under his belt.

Up Next: Well, there is that All Whites tour coming up...

Marko Stamenic – FC København (Danish Superliga)

The last game of the season meant the last time that Marko Stamenic will kit up for FC København. To be honest though, he’d already kinda had his dream farewells with a few crucial cameos in recent weeks helping this team to their league and cup double. So he was on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Randers and wouldn’t take the pitch... at least not until the trophy presentation afterwards, yeah boy!

The big emotional goodbyes were saved for club captain Carlos Zeca, the Greek international midfield veteran who has spent six dominant seasons with FCK and also, just quietly, been a mentor to young Stamenic. However the last two have been hampered by serious knee injuries and the 34yo has opted to leave at the end of his contract next month. He’s still not nearly back to fitness but they named him to start against Randers. Copenhagen then passed to him from the kickoff, he laid that off to the bloke next to him, collected the return pass... and then booted it into touch. Queue a stadium-wide show of appreciation as Zeca was subbed off to a standing ovation, manoeuvring his way through the embraces of teammates on his way to the bench. Cool gesture. They gave him man of the match too... which was a bit of a stretch given his nine second cameo with only 50% passing accuracy. Eh, no need to kill the vibe.

Marko Stamenic, along with Kalle Johnsson, also got a specific farewell ceremony prior to kickoff. Zeca was also involved. Each were presented to the crowd for a “raucous ovations before kick-off inside a sell-out stadium” in the words of the club website, acknowledging the cheers, shaking hands with the manager, and then being given flowers and a little statue of a lion (as per the club’s emblem). Marko went first so the telly coverage didn’t catch him in close-up but helpfully the plethora of camerafolks had us covered...

Up Next: All Whites duty then off to new adventures in Serbia

Elijah Just - AC Horsens (Danish Superliga)

The task was simple for Horsens as the Superliga reached its final matchweek. Coming into the round in last place but tied with opponents Lyngby on points, they needed to win. They also needed Aalborg to lose or draw in their game against Silkeborg. The second bit happened. A 74th minute goal sent Silkeborg to a 1-0 victory and thus relegated Aalborg... meaning that if Horsens could simultaneously get the dub at home against Lyngby then they’d survive in the top division despite the absolute trash of their post-winter break form.

That prospect wasn’t looking too likely for most of the match. Lyngby were in the same position (only with the benefit of goal difference allowing them to draw for survival) and after some tentative early pressure from ACH it was Lyngby who took control. In the first half that mostly meant corner kick threats. Second half they turned it into open play chances as well. Horsens hung in there nicely but a draw wasn’t going to be enough. With about quarter of an hour to go, Elijah Just got the call from his manager and on he went as a right forward in search of that season-defining goal.

Alas, there was no fairytale ending. Just’s arrival helped swing things back in ACH’s favour as they finished quite strongly. He tried to run at the defence a couple of times, though couldn’t get his crosses over. One of them did appear to catch an arm, leading to some penalty appeals, but the arm was tucked in so nothing to it. Lyngby assumed Game Management Mode. A few tempers got frayed with the situation. Six minutes of injury time wasn’t enough as Horsens simply didn’t have the sauce to score the goal that they needed. 0-0 final score. Horsens have been relegated. Gutted.

The most frustrating thing is that they looked sweet when the winter break hit. With 22 points from 17 games they were eight points clear of the relegation zone (plus 14 points ahead of Lyngby) and, thanks to the early congestion caused by a number of bigger clubs started poorly while balancing league and European qualifier commitments, Horsens were in fact only two points off fourth place at that stage. Then the World Cup happened and the winter break followed and when they finally played again, three months later, it was a different story. ACH would win only one of their remaining 15 matches. Six points from those games. Now they’re changing divisions for the third year in a row (relegated, promoted, relegated).

Eli Just played 27 times in the Superliga. Eight starts and 19 as a sub – totalling 1097 minutes. He didn’t score a goal but he did provide two assists. That’s actually more appearances and minutes than either Marko Stamenic (15 games, 748 mins) or Joe Bell (18 games, 1072 mins) made this Superliga campaign. Bell was an unused sub for the sixth game in a row as Brøndby blew a 3-0 lead against ten men to draw 3-3 with AGF, getting their own red card with ten to play. Hopefully the offseason will allow Bell the room to make whatever adjustments his new manager wants to see from him because this first season in Denmark hasn’t exactly gone to plan.

Meanwhile FC Helsingør scored first and last but lost their final game 3-2 against Sonderjyske and Callum McCowatt wasn’t available due to yellow card suspension. FCH finished sixth out of six in the championship rounds taking just one point from their final six games – seems to be a late-season collapse from this lot every season, annoyingly. That might very well mean Eli Just vs Callum McCowatt next season in Division 1 – assuming neither end up with transfers elsewhere. McCowatt ends his season with 9 goals and 5 assists from 30 appearances. That’s his best goal tally for the club yet. He is under contract for one more season so we’ll have to wait and see how that pans out.

But in happier news, a first half hat-trick from Thomas Mikkelsen carried Kolding IF to a 3-1 victory away at Aarhus Fremad. Dalton Wilkins got an early yellow card then was subbed ten mins into the second half to avoid any complications. Another solid win for that lot. Kolding are now up to first in the second division (third tier) promotion rounds, clear by one point above B93 and Esbjerg with two games left to go (including Jolding vs Esbjerg in the last week). Top two get promotion so that Division 1 next season could yet feature three kiwis at three different clubs... the ironic thing about that being that all three were once teammates together at Helsingør.

Up Next: Check for AB vs Kolding at 11pm on Sunday (NZT)

Daisy Cleverley - HB Køge (Danish Kvindeliga)

Almost there. Fortuna Hjørring away was supposed to be the first of two season defining tests for HB Køge but it didn’t prove that tough at all. These two teams had drawn 0-0 about a month ago and FH had recently beaten Brøndby (which happened to put HBK back in the box seat of the title race). However that wasn’t the version of them that turned up here.

HBK scored early via Cecilie Fløe a mere five minutes into the contest – rather useful when the keeper spills one right at your feet six yards out in a big game like this. Cornelia Kramer then broke the line to double the lead with a crucial second goal soon before the break and it was after the half-time spell that Daisy Cleverley was thrown into the mix. Good return after missing the previous match. An excellent low finish from Kramer made it 3-0 soon after the resumption – goals within six mins of the break in either direction. Andrea Norheim later finished it off from the penalty spot after 75 mins. Make that a 4-0 win for HBK with Cleverley getting half a game.

There were celebrations on the final whistle because even with Brøndby winning 5-0 in their own game, this result means that HBK are almost certain to retain their title for a third season running. They’re three points clear of BIF heading into that head to head in the last round... so a win or a draw does the trick. But should they happen to lose, they’ll probably still get the trophy thanks to a goal difference that is 21 goals better than Brøndby. In other words, they’d have to lose 11-0 to blow it from here and that probably ain’t happening for a team that’s only conceded 14 goals in 23 games this term. That final game will be a coronation, barring the most incredible turnaround you’ll ever see. And when that happens, both the men’s and women’s league champions in Denmark will have had a kiwi midfielder in their squad.

Up Next: HBK vs Brøndby on Saturday/Sunday at midnight (NZT)

Abby Erceg – Racing Louisville (American National Women’s Soccer League)

It’s two wins from two in the Challenge Cup for Racing Louisville. They beat Chicago Red Stars 2-0 on Thursday NZT in a rather dominant performance. Erceg of course won this competition with North Carolina last year while it was still a preseason event. Now they’re scattering fixtures through the midweeks and honestly one of the main reasons that Louisville are going so well is that they’re taking it seriously. Picking strong teams for these cup games, including a fired up Abby Erceg, whereas others are resting and rotating. Goals for Uchenna Kanu (44’) and Parker Goins (71’) got them the dub on this occasion.

Then they were able to back that up with a 1-1 draw against Washington Spirit in the league, despite conceding in just the third minute. Trinity Rodman was on one with a brilliant goal running in behind Erceg then chopping inside and outside the cover defender before putting her Spirit team into the lead after only 150 seconds of play. But Louisville showed plenty of edge to ensure that never happened again despite at times really having their backs to the wall against a dangerous attacking side.

Savannah DeMelo tied things up from the penalty spot early second half after Ary Borges had been tripped. A last-player tackle from Elli Pikujamsa on Rodman led to a red card after 77 minutes but RL scrambled through for the draw despite finishing with ten players. An impressive point on the road against one of the top teams.

Lotsa heart on display there. Lotsa heart.

Meanwhile we might just breeze past Angel City and Ali Riley because they’ve been on the skids lately. They were 2-0 down away to Portland in the Challenge Cup then hauled it back to 2-2... only to lose to a 90+3’ winner. Then in the NWSL a couple of first half concessions were too much in a 2-1 loss to Chicago Red Stars, although Sydney Leroux did score a late goal to keep it funky. Angel City have gone five games across the two competitions without a victory. Only goal difference is keeping them out of last. On the bright side, the Chicago game was Ali Riley’s 50th NWSL appearance so that’s something. She’s the third NZer to reach that milestone following Abby Erceg and Katie Bowen.

Up Next: Racing Louisville vs San Diego Wave at midday on Saturday (NZT)

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United (American Major League Soccer)

Nothing much seems to be changing for Minnesota United. They still aren’t scoring nearly enough goals, it’s been a month since they last scored more than once in a match (that’s seven games including a US Open Cup defeat). This week they played twice and only scored twice.

Against Austin FC that wasn’t good enough. They conceded after 19’ thanks to the usual lapse of fullback marking that’s seemed to trail them for multiple seasons with multiple fullbacks (shoulda stuck with Noah Billingsley). However they did equalise within ten minutes. It looked like a clear offside in the build-up before Joseph Rosales punted it home but for some reason it never got called. The telly replays didn’t help by pausing at the wrong moment before the ball was actually kicked.

Anyway, goal counted and the Loons finished the half strong hitting the crossbar at one point. They hit the post again from a deep free kick in the second half. A close game down in Texas... but Austin FC sneaked an 82nd minute winner as Minny failed to clear a long throw into the area. Boxall was around the congestion and had a hack at the ball, but an attacked rolled his sprigs over to squeeze it wider where it was slammed home. Minnesota sent folks forward and, as Boxall competed for a long throw, the second phase was punted into a couple deflections and eventually turned in... only for the offside decision to this time go against them. Further desperate late chances followed which didn’t quite break right. The Loons lost 2-1.

But they did follow that up with a 1-1 draw against Toronto FC and this time they were the ones scoring the late goal. Following an uneventful first half, they went behind in the 58th minute (another fullback getting beaten after losing his mark) but the return of star attacker Manny Reynoso off the bench helped spark them towards a strong finish. They had enough chances to win this game several times over in the last half hour, eventually Kevin Arriaga’s 89th minute deflected shot at least got them a draw. Boxy played all of both games. His usual stoic excellence at the back.

Up Next: Minnesota are away to Montreal at 11.30am on Sunday (NZT)

Tyler Boyd - Los Angeles Galaxy (American Major League Soccer)

Elsewhere in MLS, Bill Tuiloma got a couple starts for Charlotte FC but they lost both games so we won’t dwell on them. Ah but while LA Galaxy only played once, they did win that game 3-2 and oh look who scored the winning goal...

Nicely done. Still got a bit of that kiwi accent in him too, glad to hear. The Galaxy have been pretty crap this year but Boyd’s doing well for them having finally made that inevitable move to MLS. So well in fact that he’s gotten a recall to the USA squad for the next window.

Up Next: US Open Cup quarter-final, Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy at 1.30pm Thursday (NZT)

Max Mata & Nando Pijnaker – Sligo Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division)

Righto on, brother. Max Mata got the player of the month award for February with the customary goodie bag from the jewellers and now Nando Pijnaker can say he’s got a matching watch (or necklace or knuckleduster or voucher or whatever they have in them things). He’s won the April version of the Sligo Rovers award. Also make sure to check out the video feature on the pair that was linked in last week’s edition. Good stuff.

Sadly that’s where the good vibes end for this week. Pijnaker had gone off injured last week and thus missed both games this past weekend. Mata, not that far recovered from an injury himself, played both... but there wasn’t much to write home about from a 2-0 loss to Bohemians and a 3-0 loss to Shamrock Rovers. Mata had one decent chance in each, the first a header pushed past the near post, the second sliding onto a loose ball in the area but not quite connecting... both after his team was already losing.

Admittedly those opponents are two of the better teams in the land but still it was a dull one for Sligo to come out of that double-header without a single goal. Having lost five of their last six games, the Bit o’ Red are currently just two points above the relegation playoff spot. They do have a more favourable run of fixtures on the horizon, at least.

As for Pijnaker’s injury, it sounds like there was a chance of him playing these games so it shouldn’t be a long term thing. And he has been named in the All Whites for the games in two weeks’ time which also suggests there’s nothing to worry about. Hopefully not – Nando’s one of a number of Sligo players (especially defenders) who’ve missed time lately through injury and suspension which is a solid chunk of why they’ve been struggling. They need their latest POTM back nice and quickly.

Up Next: Shelbourne vs Sligo on Saturday at 6.45am (NZT)

Corban Piper - Wexford (League of Ireland First Division)

The Sligo Rovers stuff kinda sucked this week with two losses and an injured Nando Pijnaker... so let’s make up for that by dipping down a division to find Corban Piper continuing his solid midfield action for Wexford, who have gone on a wee bit of a run lately.

Wexford also played twice this weekend and bagged four points for their efforts plus that was on the back of a big win in their previous match. Last week’s result was a remarkable 6-0 win away to Kerry. Since then it’s been a 2-1 win over Cobh Ramblers (in which both teams had a very late red card after a scuffle in injury time) while they also drew 1-1 away to Treaty United – although they were leading 1-0 with fifteen to go before a penalty kick ensured a split of the points. Piper, a first-season pro who played for Birkenhead United in the last NZ National League, played every minutes of those three games including getting a yellow card in the latter.

All of that has got Wexford hanging out in sixth place, only a win away from potentially climbing up into the playoff positions. First place goes up automatically. The next four teams compete in two-legged semis and a final before the team that progresses from that faces off against the second-to-last team in the top flight.

Up Next: Wexford vs Galway at 6.45am on Saturday (NZT)

George Stanger – Ayr United (Scottish Championship)

Aye, get in there son. There had been some rumours a few months back about interest in George Stanger. Back in March the yarn was that Dundee Utd and Partick Thistle were both keen on the former NZ U20s defender, both Championship clubs at the time although Dundee have since gone on to win promotion as champions of the second tier (immediately after being relegated). Ayr United were second and Thistle fourth which meant both partook in the Premiership promotion playoffs... with Thistle beating Ayr 8-0 over two semi-final legs before losing on penalties to Ross County.

Meanwhile Stanger had been trying to earn promotion to the Championship the old fashioned way with Alloa Athletic. But after winning the first leg of their playoff semi against GS’s former club Hamilton Academical, things went awry in the second leg. They scored early for a 2-0 aggregate lead but then Stanger got a first half red card and although Alloa scored next – 3-0 up on aggregate with only an hour to go – they ended up losing 5-2 on the day (5-3 overall) to be condemned to another season in the third tier. Hamilton Accies then lost to Airdrieonians on penalties in the final so they got relegated anyway (the playoffs involve teams from both divisions).

No dramas because George Stanger has found his way back to the second tier regardless, signing a two-year contract with Ayr United as a free agent. Ayr’s head of recruitment is the same bloke who signed him for the Accies back in the day, apparently.

George Stanger: “I seem to have followed Keith [Glendinning] around a bit as he was involved in my signing for Hamilton and had a fair say in me going there, so it's nice that he's here at Ayr now. Alloa was a great club for me with great people and it's one of the best changing rooms I've been involved in. The key thing for me was getting regular games and challenging at the right end of the table. It didn't end the way we would have wanted but that's football and I learned a lot from last season, getting back to loving my football and I can't thank them enough for their help in my development.

When I met up with the gaffer here it was clear the level of interest that Ayr had in me and that's massive for any player. This is a great club that's just off the back of a very successful season and when I knew the extent of their interest I was very excited to come and be part of it. The team on the park is one thing but when you see the progress being made elsewhere here that also plays an important part. I've got a few mates who live down here who go to the games and I know how much the team means to people in Ayr - it's a great club that is going places.”

Stanger things indeed. The fact that his dad was a Scottish rugby international always gets mentioned but the funkiest thing about George Stanger is that before he turned 21 he’d played in each of the top four divisions in Scotland. Ayr United is also the former club of Scottish-born kiwi goalkeeper Ellis Hare-Reid, who these days is back in Aotearoa with Coastal Spirit.

Up Next: Bit of a break then it’s time to go and get promoted

Kyle Adams & Elliot Collier – San Diego Loyal (American USL Championship)

Yeah the boyz. As for on the pitch action, San Diego were involved in a bonkers game away to San Antonio in which they were 3-0 down after 17 minutes. Then San Antonio got a red card on 20 mins. That left juuuust enough time for San Diego to mount a comeback as they ended up drawing 3-3 thanks to a 90+5’ goal... before getting a red card of their own at the end. Collier started but was subbed off at half-time. Adams played the whole thing. San Diego are fourth in the Western Conference.

Up Next: Saturday at 2pm against Sacramento Republic (NZT)

Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)

We already knew this was coming, now there’s been official confirmation from Nottingham Forest. Chris Wood’s loan deal has become a permanent transfer. He’s therefore the first Forest signing of the upcoming window. Reports were that there was a trigger of only three starts before the transfer became a full one but that hasn’t been confirmed by anyone for certain (and won’t be either).

NFFC: “Serge Aurier has triggered an automatic one-year extension to his contract. Keylor Navas, Dean Henderson and Renan Lodi's loan periods will expire on 30th June. Chris Wood's loan deal from Newcastle United will become permanent from the summer transfer window open date.”

There were about a hundred incoming transfers for Forest over the past seasons, Wood included (okay, technically it was more like thirty... but still way too many). They sacked their sporting director a month ago so hopefully there’s a much more cohesive plan for the next campaign since they’ve managed to survive in the Premier League – even still Wood’s gonna have plenty of competition for places in that squad and potentially still being injured for the start of preseason won’t help him. But it’s good to know that things are sorted for him and hopefully they offload a few randos while they’re at it.

Up Next: Transfer window officially opens on June 14 in England

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