At the time, it seemed like a logical move for Newcastle United—but in hindsight, it didn’t quite pan out as expected. As a result, Chris Wood’s departure to Nottingham Forest in 2023 didn’t feel like a significant blow for the Magpies.
Eddie Howe had initially hoped to retain the forward at St James’ Park, but Wood made it clear he was eager for more regular first-team opportunities, which led to his move to the City Ground. The transfer began with an initial loan deal, which was later made permanent in the summer.
Since then, both parties have moved forward. Newcastle have continued their upward trajectory, securing European football after a long absence, while Wood has been on a mission to help Forest reclaim their place among the elite.
The 33-year-old has been in fine form this season, netting 18 Premier League goals so far, and he’ll be aiming to add to that tally when he returns to St James’ Park this weekend.
“I could see the project that Newcastle were trying to build,” Wood told Sky Sports this week.
“It was an opportunity to elevate my game and potentially take me to the next step if I went in there and scored goals and done well.
“It didn’t work out perfectly, but it worked out well. We stayed up, done extremely well and then we got Champions League the next year. I’m happy to be a part of that and the rebuild of Newcastle, and where they have gone on to is fantastic.”
Wood is currently thriving alongside former Newcastle goalkeeper Matz Sels, who has also revitalized his career, and ex-United academy product Elliot Anderson. Howe was compelled to sell Anderson last summer due to the club’s well-documented Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) concerns.
