Nottingham Forest Sign Xaver Schlager: Glasner's First Move Is a Midfield Power Play

Glasner's First Move: A Statement of Intent

Nottingham Forest have wasted no time reshaping their midfield this summer, confirming the signing of Austrian international Xaver Schlager from RB Leipzig on a free transfer. The 28-year-old joins on a two-year contract with the option of a third, marking the first piece of business under new head coach Oliver Glasner.

Let that sink in for a moment: Forest have landed a player who served as vice-captain at one of the Bundesliga's most consistently competitive clubs, a midfielder with 108 appearances for Leipzig and starting experience across all four of Austria's World Cup matches. And they got him for nothing. In a market where clubs routinely overpay for players half as proven, this looks like genuinely sharp business.

Why Schlager Fits the Forest Project

Schlager is expected to undergo a medical in Nottingham this week before linking up with his new teammates at the club's pre-season training camp in Portugal. He arrives with serious pedigree, having initially joined RB Leipzig from Wolfsburg back in 2022 and quickly establishing himself as a linchpin in the middle of the park.

For Oliver Glasner, this is personal. He gets a fellow Austrian, a player whose intensity and ball-winning instincts are tailor-made for the Premier League, and someone who understands the demands of competing at the top level week in, week out. Glasner reportedly has significant input into recruitment strategy this summer, and if this is the standard he's setting, Forest supporters have every reason to be optimistic about the transfer window ahead.

Filling the Anderson-Shaped Hole

The urgency of the signing becomes clearer when you consider Nottingham Forest recently lost Elliot Anderson to Manchester City. That departure left a significant gap in the centre of the pitch, and the club has also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur's Lucas Bergvall as another potential midfield addition.

Schlager, though, feels like the headline act. He's a player who has competed in the Champions League, thrived in high-pressure knockout football, and operated as a leader in the Leipzig dressing room. Anderson's exit stung, but if Schlager can replicate his Bundesliga form in England, Forest might actually come out ahead on this particular swap of fortunes.

The Bigger Picture for Forest's 2026-27 Season

This is a club that has made it clear they want quality over quantity this summer. Glasner's appointment signalled a shift towards a more defined footballing philosophy, and bringing in Schlager as his inaugural signing sends a strong message: Forest are not just here to survive in the Premier League. They want to compete.

How Schlager adapts to the relentless pace and physicality of English football will be one of the fascinating subplots to watch when the 2026-27 season kicks off. The raw talent and experience are undeniable. The question is whether his body holds up (he has dealt with injury spells in the past) and whether Glasner can build the kind of system around him that unlocks his best performances.

For anyone watching Nottingham Forest's pre-season preparations closely, or keeping an eye on their opening Premier League fixtures, this is a signing that shifts expectations. The smart money says Glasner knows exactly what he's getting.

For those looking to follow Forest's campaign and explore exciting betting opportunities on Premier League match outcomes and results, check out Epicbet.