Xaver Schlager joins Nottingham Forest as a free agent
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Xaver Schlager on a free transfer from RB Leipzig, with the move confirmed on 22 July 2026. The midfielder arrives at the City Ground ahead of the new Premier League season without a fee changing hands.
A regular for Leipzig
Schlager was a consistent presence for RB Leipzig through 2025, making 30 competitive appearances and totalling 2,067 minutes across all competitions. The bulk of his football came in the Bundesliga, where he featured 26 times for 1,837 minutes, adding a further four appearances and 230 minutes in the DFB Pokal.
Across that campaign he also contributed three goals, underlining his ability to offer a threat from midfield alongside his defensive and distribution duties.
What he brings to Forest
The free transfer gives Nottingham Forest an experienced central midfielder with a heavy workload behind him from one of the Bundesliga's leading clubs. With pre-season underway and the new campaign approaching, Schlager is expected to add depth and competition to Forest's midfield options as they prepare for the season ahead.