NOTTINGHAM FOREST HISTORY

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST HISTORY
30 July, 2024

Lewis O'Brien makes USA move

On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 2024 Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien joins Los Angeles FC on loan.

Player legacies

Individual milestone
Lewis O'Brien, pictured in 2018.
Lewis O'Brien, pictured in 2018. Image: Bradford City AFC / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lewis O’Brien’s loan move to Los Angeles FC gave him a fresh start after a frustrating spell on the edge of Forest’s Premier League plans.

Forest confirmed that the midfielder had joined LAFC for the remainder of the 2024 MLS season. It was another move away from the City Ground for a player who had arrived from Huddersfield Town, along with Harry Toffolo, in 2022 after impressing in the Championship.

Lewis O'Brien, pictured in 2018.
Lewis O'Brien, pictured in 2018. Image: Bradford City AFC / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

O’Brien’s early Forest story had been shaped by disruption. He joined during the club’s first Premier League summer after promotion, but competition for places and squad changes made it hard for him to settle into a regular role.

The LAFC loan offered something different: a new league, a strong MLS club and the chance to play more consistently. For the player, it was an opportunity to rebuild rhythm rather than wait for minutes in a crowded Forest midfield.

For Forest, the move reflected the wider challenge of managing a large squad after promotion. Not every signing from that first Premier League rebuild could find a lasting place.

Sources

Nottingham Forest official site; MLS

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Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
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Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stade Brestois 29
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
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Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds
29
Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
5
Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
12
Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
19
Nottingham Forest 0–1 Coventry
11
Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
18
Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
23
Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
31
Brentford 15:00 Nottingham Forest
7
Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
21
Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
27
Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
2
Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
5
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brighton
12
Sunderland 15:00 Nottingham Forest
19
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Everton
27
Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
30
Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
2
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
5
Nottingham Forest 19:30 Hull City
16
Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
23
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Bournemouth
30
Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
6
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brentford
10
Fulham 20:00 Nottingham Forest
20
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Manchester United
27
Everton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
3
Nottingham Forest 20:00 Newcastle
13
Tottenham 15:00 Nottingham Forest
20
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Aston Villa
10
Leeds 15:00 Nottingham Forest
17
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Liverpool
24
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Sunderland
1
Brighton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
8
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Crystal Palace
15
Arsenal 15:00 Nottingham Forest
23
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Ipswich
30
Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest