He’s been an excellent member of the Forest squad this season.
Nottingham Forest nearly averted relegation to the Championship this season, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s team needing a win over Burnley on the penultimate day to secure their Premier League status.
The 2023/24 season has been difficult for the Reds, with everything from point deductions to owner Evangelos Marinakis rushing the ground at full-time after Paul Tierney’s error against Liverpool.
However, it has allowed some players to succeed and develop, which, unfortunately for Forest, has sparked intense interest, with Murillo and Morgan Gibbs-White both linked with lucrative deals away from the City Ground.
The money would likely aid their cause in their fight to escape another PSR sanction, but it would also result in the club losing two of its finest players ahead of next season, which will undoubtedly be another difficult season in the Premier League.
One player has certainly flown under the radar in the East Midlands, with his talents and abilities dividing the fanbase on numerous occasions.
Ryan Yates’ stats for Nottingham Forest in 2023/24
Despite spending upwards of £30 million on Ibrahim Sangare to strengthen the Reds’ midfield, Ryan Yates has solidified his place at the heart of the Forest squad.
The academy graduate has worked his way up from the youth levels to the first squad, making 200 appearances for the club during the 2023/24 season.
The 26-year-old has appeared in 35 of the Reds’ 38 league games, putting up some impressive numbers that have surely contributed significantly to the club’s survival.
He’s not the most visually appealing player due to his lack of quality, but he compensates with his game management and tenacious temperament, which makes him a nuisance to the opposition.
This season in the Premier League, he averages three tackles and two clearances per 90 minutes, both of which rank in the top 10% of all European midfielders, according to FBref.
| Yates’ stats at Forest in 2023/24 | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | Tally |
| Games played | 35 |
| Tackles (per 90) | 3 |
| Clearances (per 90) | 2 |
| Blocks (per 90) | 1.9 |
| Aerials won (per 90) | 1.8 |
| Stats via FBref | |
Yates has also averaged 1.9 blocks and 1.8 aerial wins this season, demonstrating his tenacity in Nuno’s midfield.
He also scored his first top-flight goal in a 3-1 victory against Sheffield United a few weeks ago, and his outstanding performances contributed to his rapid rise in value.
Ryan Yates’s market value by 2024
Six years after his Forest debut, the 26-year-old could never have foreseen the impact he would have on the first team, and his performances are surely deserved of more recognition.
According to Transfermarkt, he is worth £10.2 million, with the club making a significant profit on him in the future, especially given that he cost them nothing after coming through the academy.
His eventual value exceeds that of striker Chris Wood, who cost the club £15 million but is now only worth £5.9 million, despite scoring 14 goals in the Premier League during the 2023/24 season.
While Yates continues to divide opinion among supporters, one thing is certain: any squad must yearn for a player as committed as Yates, with his drive to achieve at the club, as described by former Forest academy coach Gary Brazil as “outstanding”.
It may not be the most visually appealing, but every time he plays for the Reds, you know he will give his all and do everything it takes to move Forest forward.
