10 Nottingham Forest Top Goal Scorer- Ranked

Nottingham Forest have had a pretty far-reaching history in the 21st Century, from playing in the bottom divisions to attempting to rejoin the Premier League. Here we will take a look at the top 10 goal scorers for Nottingham Forest in the 21st Century and how their goals really had an impact.

But when all that came together in one big piece, one thing did, indeed stay the same, and it’s been goals. When Nottingham Forest faced relegation or pushed for survival or put themselves up in a cup run, there were lots of players who came on with the big-name goals that got the club through those struggles.

Some of them, it really does, became Nottingham Forest fans’ heroes. Not because they had the biggest names, but because of what they did on the pitch.

10. Callum Hudson-Odoi (2023- present)

Callum Hudson-Odoi joins Nottingham Forest from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 for reported £5million - and has been one of the key players in Forest’s attacking line-up since his arrival.

In all of his time with Forest he has netted 14 goals and provided 4 assists in 63 appearances, giving us a real creative asset along the final third. He hasn’t yet won a trophy with Forest but, at crucial times in the Premier League, his goals have been invaluable.

9. Chris Cohen (2007-2018)

Chris Cohen also joined Forest in July 2007 from Yeovil Town in a combined £1. 2 million deal.

Cohen was a familiar face among the fans over the course of his 11-year spell at the club thanks to his hard work and leadership, he made almost 300 appearances, scoring 16 goals and 17 assists.

Cohen didn’t win any major trophies during his time at Forest, but was a key figure during the club’s promotion drive in 2008, and his long-standing loyalty helped to win the club’s captain,  and was respected throughout his playing days until he retired in 2018.

8. Morgan Gibbs-White (2022-present)

Morgan Gibbs-White signed for Nottingham Forest in August 2022 in a reported fee of up to £42.5m (plus add-ons) worth the club record transfer fee.

With him following in from Wolves he has quickly shown that he is the creative leader in his team  and by 2025 he already netted 18 goals alongside 27 assists as Forest pulled first blood to clinch promotion to the Premier League.

He’s still young and has proven himself an effective leader, and is in the mix to be Forest’s new best player in the future.

7. Michail Antonio (2014-2015)

Michail Antonio arrived at Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2014 from Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee, and spent only half a season at Forest before turning into one of the most dangerous wingers in the Championship.

Antonio had a single season at the Club in which he scored 19 goals and had 13 assists , and although he made the move to West Ham United in 2015 Antonio was notable enough to many Forest fans to be remembered by him, as he was one of the league’s top scorers at the time.

6. Joe Lolley (2018-2022)

Joe Lolley  signed a new contract with Nottingham Forest in January 2018 from Huddersfield Town.

Lolley averaged 26 goals and 26 assists in 171 appearances for Nottingham Forest.

Joe was one of the only players in Nottingham Forest’s play-off history to have both Player of the Season and Goal of the Season awards when he joined in the summer of 2018-19 – and his ability to shoot from distance and create chances was one of the main selling points when he left in 2022.

5. Britt Assombalonga (2014-2017)

Britt Assombalonga became Nottingham Forest’s record signing when he joined from Peterborough United in August 2014 for around £5.5m.

He was able to make an immediate impact, scoring 30 goals in fewer than 50 league appearances. Injuries slow his run, but on the flip side whenever he was fit he was one of the most effective strikers in the Championship.

Either that or the excitement he generated whilst with the club still owes a lot to him being one of the best forwards of the 21st century.

4. Nathan Tyson (2005-2011)

Nathan Tyson signed for Nottingham Forest on loan from Wycombe Wanderers in November 2005 and as soon as the loan ran out the deal was made permanent for £675, 000. The fan favorite quickly rose to prominence with his unrelenting running and goalscoring ability.

He was employed by Forest until his release in 2011-14, helping them to promotion from League One in 2007-08 with 37 goals and 5 assists, especially when playing at full-forward. A quick, low-ball striker with excellent footwork and a high degree of directness.

3. Chris Wood (2023-present)

Chris Wood left Newcastle United in January 2023 for Nottingham Forest for a reported £15m fee, and the experienced New Zealand international did little to help himself to the position, he netted for the club and played as Forest’s top goalscorer for several seasons.

He became the first Forest player in history to have been presented with the Premier League Player of the Month award in October 2024 and was also rewarded with the hat-trick against Brighton in February 2025 when his level and experience in front of goal was at its best. So far, he has scored 38 goals and 4 assists for Forest.

2. Dexter Blackstock (2009-2017)

Dexter Blackstock left Queens Park Rangers on loan to Nottingham Forest in March 2009 but signed a permanent contract for around £1. 6 million with the Forest

During his stay at the Forest, he emerged as a solid striker, netting 44 goals and 12 assists in all competitions.

He was a doubt for Forest regularly with injuries but never lost his ability to be a key member when fit.

He played his best football for several seasons in the early years of his spell, when he regularly made it to the top of the Championship table and, although he did not win a trophy, he was consistently an important figure for the club.

1. Lewis Grabban (2018-2022)

Lewis Grabban joined Nottingham Forest from Bournemouth for an reported £6million in July 2018 and became one of the club’s marquee players in the Championship.

At the club, he netted 56 goals and provided 10 assists in 147 appearances during his four years - perhaps one of the all-time prolific forwards in the history of Forest.

His tally of 20 goals for Forest in the 2019-20 campaign is the first Forest player since 2003 to do that in a league season.

Groban was also a captain when the club took the armband in what has been a significant season for them, both on and off. He played a big part in steering his team into promotion fights.

Nottingham Forest’s story in the 21st century has been shaped by these goal scorers. Each player left a mark in their own way. Goals win games, and these players gave Forest memories that fans still celebrate.