Can Nottingham Forest move ignite Gio Reyna’s stalled career?

Gio Reyna has to play. That – a lack of playing time – has become the defining issue of the young American’s career. A series of injuries, followed by a nasty feud between his family and coach surrounding the 2022 World Cup, halted his development as one of the most exciting young talents ever produced by the United States. Reyna has been out of favor at Borussia Dortmund this season, but a move to the Premier League could help him see the forest for the trees.

Nottingham Forest have given Reyna the opportunity to get his career back on track and he must make the most of it. The 21-year-old is only on loan at the City Ground until the end of the season, but the coming months could dramatically change Reyna’s trajectory. This is a great opportunity to make up for lost time.

Reyna has not played a full season since the 2020/21 season. Injuries robbed him of almost two full seasons, but Reyna has been generally fit and available since last summer, yet he has started just one Bundesliga game in that time. Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic was understandably cautious not to rush Reyna back from injury, but he has since become an afterthought. There is no plan for its development there.

It wasn’t that long ago that Reyna was widely seen as Borussia Dortmund’s next prodigy. He made his Bundesliga debut at the age of just 17 years and 66 days, beating Christian Pulisic’s record and becoming the youngest American to ever play in Germany’s top flight. Reyna was a key figure for the Black and Yellows long before he was a teenager. Most assumed he would use the club as a springboard, just as many others have done in the past.

There was deliberate symbolism in Dortmund’s decision to hand Reyna the number 7 shirt following Jadon Sancho’s £73 million transfer to Manchester United, but at some point the Bundesliga club lost confidence in him. Terzic has had numerous opportunities to reintegrate Reyna this season, but has chosen not to. He had no choice but to get out.

Joining Forest – even on loan – is risky. The bottom of the Premier League hasn’t been kind to the Americans of late (see Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie last season), but this particular move could provide a huge advantage.

If Reyna can succeed in Europe’s strongest competition, he can probably succeed anywhere. His reputation will be restored.

Conditions at Nottingham Forest will be challenging. The club was recently accused of breaching the Premier League Sustainability and Profit (PSR) rules and could face a points deduction. Something like the 10-point penalty given to Everton for similar offenses would plunge Forest deep into relegation trouble. And it’s not like the City Ground has been the most stable environment for new signings over the past two seasons: Reyna is Forest’s 42nd signing in the past four transfer windows, and Nuno Espírito Santo is still settling in as the new manager of the club after replacing Steve. Kuiper in December. Reyna may struggle to hit the ground running in such an unstable environment.

Reyna will not have an easy time of it when it comes to football either. Nottingham Forest’s attack is better than their lowly sixteenth place in the Premier League would suggest. Wingers Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi are in good form. According to Understat, Elanaga ranks second in the league in xGChain, a measure of a player’s creative impact, since Nuno replaced Cooper. Hudson-Odoi is in 19th place, hardly a paltry gain for a team that sits third from bottom in the league Table of expected goals during the season.

Most importantly, Morgan Gibbs-White currently serves as Forest’s creative hub. And he plays in Reyna’s preferred position – No. 10 – behind a lone striker. Dortmund have tried to push Reyna into wider positions this season to give him some minutes, but he still functions at his best in a free role in the center of the pitch. Given the competition, the rookie will have to work his way into the lineup. If that continues, it could jeopardize his role with the USMNT.

Reyna will also have to adapt his natural playing style. Forest plays a more counter-attacking style under Nuno than Reyna was used to at Dortmund. Only Sheffield United, Luton and Everton have averaged lower possession per match than Forest this season. However, if Reyna is as talented as widely believed, he will find a way to worm his way into the team and make an impact.

Of course, so much depends on whether Reyna’s condition will hold up. If he can string together a series of matches, his skill will certainly shine through. His impressive post-World Cup form for the USMNT was a reminder of just how good he can be. At his best, Reyna is a one-man offensive dynamo.

Some USMNT fans may be disappointed that Reyna has ended up on such a low rung of the Premier League ladder. It wasn’t that long ago that the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City (who Gio’s father Claudio Reyna played for) were seen as potential candidates. Even this month, top four chasers Aston Villa were linked. Forest is not on the same level.

However, this reflects the situation Reyna finds herself in now. He may be the most naturally talented player the US has ever produced, but talent only counts for so much at the elite level. He is at Forest, not Liverpool or Manchester City, because there are so many questions surrounding him. Can he stay fit? What is his best position? Does he lack discipline? The best teams can’t wait much longer for Reyna to provide answers.