Nottingham Forest sign Austrian international Xaver Schlager on free transfer, two-year deal

Published Jul 23, 01:27 PM UTC

Nottingham Forest have officially announced the signing of Austrian international Xaver Schlager on a free transfer. The 28-year-old central midfielder has signed a two-year contract, becoming the first acquisition under new head coach Oliver Glasner. Schlager joins after four seasons at RB Leipzig, where he served as vice-captain during the 2025/26 season. He made 30 appearances last season and started all four of Austria's World Cup matches, bringing his international caps to 55. Known for his energetic pressing and technical ability, Schlager began his career at Red Bull Salzburg, helping them reach the 2017/18 Europa League semi-finals. He spent seven seasons in Germany, making nearly 200 appearances across all competitions, including 15 in the Champions League. Schlager previously worked successfully with Glasner at Wolfsburg, where they achieved Europa League qualification and a fourth-place Bundesliga finish.