Nottingham Forest are close to signing steven benda on a free transfer, with the 27-year-old goalkeeper in line to fill a squad role rather than a starting spot. Forest need a new third-choice goalkeeper after Angus Gunn and Stefan Ortega both left, and the move would add cover at a position that has been thinned by departures.
Fulham and Steven Benda
Steven Benda becomes available after three years contracted to Fulham, and his recent match record helps explain why Nottingham Forest are moving cautiously rather than paying a fee. He made just four cup appearances for Fulham in recent seasons, a small sample that leaves Forest judging depth and readiness more than headline value.
The same player has had more minutes away from Fulham. In 2025-26, he made 10 outings across loan spells with Millwall and Feyenoord, giving Nottingham Forest a recent run of games to weigh against his limited role at Fulham. That mix of short loan spells and cup cameos is the practical reason the transfer sits in the background of squad planning rather than at the top of the team sheet.
Nottingham Forest squad depth
According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest are close to getting a deal over the line for Steven Benda. Oliver Glasner's side have already brought in Ousmane Diomande earlier this week, and the goalkeeper move would continue a transfer period shaped by targeted additions rather than a broad overhaul.
For Nottingham Forest, the issue is straightforward: Angus Gunn and Stefan Ortega have gone, and the club needs a third-choice goalkeeper who can be added without a transfer fee. For Benda, a free move offers a route into a Premier League squad, but the role would likely keep his appearances limited unless injuries or selection changes open the door.
What Nottingham Forest decide next
The next step is whether Nottingham Forest finalize the deal for Steven Benda. If they do, the move will answer a specific squad problem without changing the first-choice picture, while leaving Benda to compete for the kind of bench place that often depends on training form and availability more than transfer fee.
