1 week ago
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Luca Netz, the 23-year-old German defender not exactly known for finding the back of the net, put two past the opposition before the halftime whistle for Nottingham Forest. For a player who managed just one goal across 113 appearances at Borussia Mönchengladbach, that qualifies as a statistical anomaly.
The left-back’s brace marks a striking departure from his usual contribution profile. Netz built his reputation as a creator rather than a finisher during his Bundesliga career, racking up 18 assists at Gladbach while keeping his personal goal count at a modest one. Scoring twice in 45 minutes is, to put it mildly, not what anyone had penciled in.
From Gladbach to the City Ground
Netz arrived at Nottingham Forest on February 2, 2026, in a deal worth approximately £1.1 million. He signed a four-and-a-half-year contract, giving Forest a long-term option at left-back.
Born on May 15, 2003, Netz came through Hertha Berlin’s academy before moving to Mönchengladbach, where he developed into a reliable defensive option with genuine attacking instincts. His 18 assists across 113 appearances told the story of a player who could get forward effectively but preferred the final ball to the final shot.
In the early stretch of the 2025-26 Premier League season, Netz saw the pitch in seven matches, logging 355 minutes. He hadn’t yet registered a goal in the league heading into this match.
A first half to remember
That drought ended emphatically. Netz’s two first-half goals doubled his entire career scoring output in the span of roughly 45 minutes of football.
What this means for Forest
Nottingham Forest’s recruitment team deserves a quiet nod for the Netz signing. Acquiring a Bundesliga regular for £1.1 million was already shrewd business on paper. His four-and-a-half-year deal runs through to the summer of 2030, giving Forest both the time to develop him and the contractual leverage to benefit financially if his form continues to improve.
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