Nottingham Forest was meant to be where Matt Turner would establish himself as a first team Premier League goalkeeper.
Instead, it’s where the US men’s national team number one has almost certainly brought an end to his career in the English top flight. Indeed, Turner has already been replaced at the City Ground.
Forest’s signing of Matz Sels from Strasbourg in the January transfer window demoted Turner to second-choice. The American made a number of mistakes over the first half of the season and Nuno Espirito Santo ultimately decided he couldn’t risk Turner making more with Nottingham Forest in a relegation battle.
There is no question Turner is still the best American goalkeeper right now. The 29-year-old has never let down the national team and is expected to be the USA number one when the 2026 World Cup on home soil arrives. Before then, though, Turner must sort out his club situation. He will probably have to find a new team.
Spending the 2022/23 season at Arsenal did Turner good. He didn’t make many first team appearances for the Gunners, but developed in an elite environment and the results of this were evident in the performances Turner produced for the USMNT. At the 2022 World Cup, there was little debate over the goalkeeper position, with Turner the lockdown number one.
At 29, though, Turner can’t afford much more time on the bench. He is at the stage of his career where he needs to play regularly and this is why it’s not feasible for him to stay at Nottingham Forest if he is Nuno’s second-choice. He will need to force his way out of the City Ground at the end of the season.
Finding another Premier League team could prove difficult given the mistakes he’s made in the division this season, but Turner still has the quality to play in another ‘Big Five’ European league. Many Americans have found a home in the Bundesliga – it’s possible Turner could earn a contract with a German club for next season.
In Serie A, he would join a number of US men’s national team teammates including Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah who are currently plying their trade in Italy. Meanwhile Folarin Balogun is playing for Monaco in Ligue 1 – certainly a step down from the Premier League in terms of average quality, but with playing time at a premium, it’s a good option regardless.
Some have speculated Turner could end up back in Major League Soccer. Of course, he has a history with the New England Revolution and would surely be a popular figure at Gillette Stadium were he to return there. Several teams would be interested in Turner if he began entertaining a transfer to an MLS club.
Turner has done enough for the USMNT to be sure of his place in Gregg Berhalter’s team for the time being. However, there are other threats who could feasibly displace him before the 2026 World Cup. Gaga Slonina, for example, is widely seen as the USA’s next great goalkeeper and is gaining first team experience for Eupen in Belgium on loan from Chelsea.
“Ideally we want our players, all of our players, playing week in and week out, 90 minutes and being a big part of their team and contributing each and every week,” said Berhalter in an interview when recently asked about Turner’s current situation at Nottingham Forest where he is on the bench.
“That’s not always the case. When I talk about ups and downs in our player pool, at one time in their career having these ups and downs, it’s no different for our goalkeepers. We’re confident that they have the right mentality to get themselves out of it. That’s part of being at such a high level, that it’s really competitive.”
As a modern goalkeeper, Turner has his flaws. Most elite level managers like their goalkeepers to have a high technical ability on the ball. Turner, however, can sometimes look vulnerable in possession and this was exposed during the first half of this season at Nottingham Forest. This might count against him if he is in the market for a new club.
As a shot-stopper, though, Turner is still good enough to operate at a high level of the game, it’s just about finding a club where that quality can shine through. Nottingham Forest wasn’t that club, but with the right platform, possibly in another league, Turner can still achieve his maximum potential.
