Player Nottingham Forest sold for just £5m scores and gets sent off in major cup final

The Nottingham Forest squad has transformed quite a bit over the past few years, as they look to compete at the very highest level.

Under owner Evangelos Marinakis, the Reds have been particularly aggressive in the transfer market, pushing hard to sign plenty of quality.

In their first Premier League season, the side made 30 signings to help improve their overall standard.

It has helped them survive, and then some, as Nottingham Forest pushed to achieve European qualification last campaign.

That has also, naturally, meant exits for those who were not deemed good enough for the team.

One of those former Forest stars is now impressing in the USA, and even has a trophy to his name after an eventful final.

READ MORE: Darren Bent already spots one thing about Ange Postecoglou at Nottingham Forest that’s not quite right

Sam Surridge wins US Open Cup final with Nashville two years on from Nottingham Forest exit

Among the players caught in Nottingham Forest’s squad churn of the past two or so years is Sam Surridge.

The English striker came through the ranks at Bournemouth as a promising young striker, before moving to Stoke City and then Nottingham Forest.

Surridge spent just 18 months at the City Ground, making 50 appearances with 11 goals and four assists.

Then came his exit, as in 2023 he was sold to MLS side Nashville for just £5 million, a move that has seen him become a regular for the side.

The 27-year-old has proven his importance on a regular basis, but none more so than in the US Open Cup final, the equivalent of the English FA Cup.

In the final, Surridge bagged what proved to be the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Austin, scoring from the spot.

His eventful match didn’t end there, as he was also sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence.

In the end, that didn’t prove costly, as Surridge picked up a historic title for Nashville, as he continues to build his legacy after Forest.

READ MORE: Michail Antonio and Joe Cole in complete agreement on how Nottingham Forest will do in Europa this season

Sam Surridge’s move to Nashville has certainly been a successful one, as he continues to impress on the MLS stage.

His goal-scoring record is better than one every two games, showing he can mix it up in the division.

Appearances	Goals	Assists
82	48	8

Sam Surridge’s statistics for Nashville.

Now adding that US Open Cup to his CV, Surridge is building a reputation as one of the best players in America.

At just 27, there are some peak years ahead for him too, which could see him grow and improve even further.