Nottingham Forest secured Nikola Milenkovic’s transfer from Fiorentina at a bargain price last week.
The Reds were eager to strengthen their defensive line after Moussa Niakhate transferred to Lyon for £27 million last month. Keen to add quality to Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad, Nottingham Forest identified Nikola Milenkovic as a perfect fit.
Milenkovic joined the City Ground for just £12 million, which feels like an astute business move. The Serbian defender spent seven years in Italy, making 264 appearances for Fiorentina and helping them reach two UEFA Conference League finals.
Many are curious about what Milenkovic will bring to Nottingham Forest. Some statistics might excite the Forest fan base.
This transfer appears to be a remarkable piece of business from Forest’s perspective. Milenkovic, who featured three times for his country at Euro 2024, has impressive stats. WhoScored highlighted his aerial dominance, noting that of the 297 players to contest 25+ aerial duels in Serie A last season, Milenkovic had the highest success rate (79.4%). This is a significant boost for Forest, who conceded the most set-piece goals in the Premier League last season.
According to FBRef, Milenkovic’s stats would place him second in the entire Premier League, just behind Virgil van Dijk, if he had played there last season. Now, Milenkovic has joined his new teammates ahead of the season and might debut against Millwall tomorrow.
Milenkovic could already be the most important centre-back at Forest, potentially forming an exceptional pairing with Murillo. Last season’s statistics show why Forest signed Milenkovic, with his heading stats significantly outpacing the current squad.
Forest used seven different centre-backs last year, excluding Serge Aurier, who played there once. Milenkovic’s aerial success rate was head and shoulders above the rest, with the following stats:
Scott McKenna: 5 games, 23 aerial duels contested, 20 won (85%)
Nikola Milenkovic (Fiorentina): 34 games, 141 aerial duels contested, 112 won (79.4%)
Moussa Niakhate: 13 games, 13 aerial duels contested, 10 won (75%)
Felipe: 4 games, 14 aerial duels contested, 10 won (70%)
Willy Boly: 18 games, 83 aerial duels contested, 57 won (68.7%)
Joe Worrall: 5 games, 20 aerial duels contested, 11 won (54.4%)
Murillo: 32 games, 78 aerial duels contested, 38 won (48.7%)
Andrew Omobamidele: 8 games, 16 aerial duels contested, 7 won (41.2%)
The statistics demonstrate Milenkovic’s consistency and aerial prowess. While McKenna boasts a better ratio, Milenkovic’s consistent performance stands out.
Forest have clearly done their due diligence, and Nuno Espirito Santo will likely appreciate Milenkovic’s skills. After a season of poor set-piece defending, Milenkovic’s love for defending the box will be a crucial asset. Forest spent only £12 million on a player who excels at heading, which can only be a positive move for the club.