Nottingham Forest secured a 56-goal striker for £6m - It was an EFL masterstroke | OneFootball

Lewis Grabban was a stellar signing for Nottingham Forest.

Nottingham Forest are now a side on the cusp of European football, with Nuno Espírito Santo guiding his team through a remarkable 2024–25 campaign.

The East Midlands outfit have had to bide their time in the top flight, with heavy investment in the 2022–23 season ultimately helping them avoid the drop. A strong finish last term also saw them stave off relegation once again.

However, it wasn't so long ago that Forest appeared consigned to life in the second tier, having spent 14 consecutive seasons in the Championship before securing promotion in 2022.

Despite their extended stay in the division, the club boasted some outstanding players during that period - none more so than Lewis Grabban.

A seasoned Championship striker, Grabban turned out for numerous clubs across the English football pyramid. Yet it was during the latter stages of his career, while at the City Ground, that he truly found his home.

Lewis Grabban's Nottingham Forest career

Grabban spent much of his early career moving between various EFL clubs, but it was at AFC Bournemouth - following a productive stint with Rotherham United - where he first made a real name for himself.

During his initial spell with the Cherries, he scored an impressive 35 league goals over two seasons. His debut campaign in the Championship proved particularly fruitful, as he found the net 22 times and provided four assists.

Spells at Norwich City, Reading, Aston Villa and Sunderland followed, but it was in 2018 that Nottingham Forest decided they wanted the striker. Signed for £6 million, the then 30-year-old reportedly took weeks of convincing to join the club and, looking back, he will be delighted he did.

His first season was one of patches - he struggled to find the net at both the beginning and end, but between mid-September and January, he was a man transformed, scoring 14 goals in a blistering 13-game spell.

In the following campaign, Grabban emerged as a more consistent finisher for Forest, ending the season with an impressive 20 league goals to his name. Unfortunately, his fine individual tally was in vain, as a dismal end to the season - with Forest failing to win any of their final six matches - ultimately cost them a place in the top six.

Lewis Grabban's special Nottingham Forest farewell

The 2020–21 season was one to forget for both Forest and Grabban, as they found themselves battling near the foot of the table - and the 2021–22 campaign looked set to follow a similar pattern, with no wins in their opening seven matches. Yet the arrival of Steve Cooper changed everything, and with Grabban now wearing the captain’s armband, Forest embarked on an incredible resurgence.

A string of victories followed, with Grabban contributing 12 goals, but personal disappointment struck in April as a hamstring injury brought his season to a premature end.

Nevertheless, Forest secured a fourth-place finish, and although he was unable to feature, Grabban was still able to savour a moment to treasure. His final memory at Forest came as the club triumphed in the play-offs - a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Sheffield United in the semi-finals sent them to Wembley, where they defeated Huddersfield Town 1–0 to seal promotion to the Premier League.

That summer, Grabban departed the City Ground with his overall record at the club reading at 56 goals in 149 appearances - a true modern-day great for the East Midlands club.

Since announcing his retirement in 2023, Grabban has returned to his former club in a coaching capacity, eager to pass on the wealth of knowledge he earned throughout his career. He is currently working with the Under-18s and the club’s B team, with his experience undoubtedly proving invaluable to the next generation of talent emerging from Forest’s academy.