Michael Forbes is now the second West Ham United prospect to link up with Kevin Nolan at Northampton Town in England’s third-tier.
Forbes moved to Sixfields on a one-year loan deal on Friday afternoon. Thus, following in the footsteps of another player hoping to establish himself in senior football.
Former West Ham United captain and one-time assistant coach Kevin Nolan lured a ‘very excited’ Kamarai Swyer to Northampton Town at the end of May.
Nolan talked up Swyer’s ‘huge potential’ after finalising a permanent deal for a young forward who mustered 18 goal contributions at Under-21 level last term. The 2025/26 season will now represent Swyer’s first stint in the men’s game.
Forbes, in contrast, arrives at Northampton having made seven League One appearances during a similar loan spell with Bristol Rovers.
Kevin Nolan explains why Northampton signed Michael Forbes from West Ham United
A 21-year-old centre-back who has already earned a senior cap for the Northern Ireland national team, Kevin Nolan saw enough from a teenage Forbes at West Ham to suggest he could make a transformative impact at a Cobblers side which conceded 66 goals in 46 league matches in 2024/25.
“Michael is a player I have known for a long time,” Nolan tells the official Northampton website.
“He was a youth team player at West Ham when I was there. I know what he is capable of and the levels he is capable of reaching.
“We would like to thank West Ham United for trusting us with Michael. We are building a really good relationship and hopefully all parties can benefit from Michael’s time with us.
“We said earlier in the week we were looking to strengthen in all areas and Michael’s signing is part of that process.”
Nolan backs Forbes to force his way back into Northern Ireland squad
Forbes joined Colchester United after his time at Bristol Rovers came to an end in January. An ill-timed injury meant he would never make an appearance for the Essex-based outfit, however.
Forbes returns to the Football League looking to make up for lost time, then. Something Nolan is only too happy to help him out with.
“He had some really bad luck last season but he is back now and we feel we can provide the platform for Michael to develop and kick on,” adds Nolan, who celebrated Europa Conference League glory alongside David Moyes before leaving the London Stadium in 2024.
“We believe we can help him reach the levels we know he is capable of, and that includes playing international football again.”
With his contract expiring next summer, this feels like a crucial juncture in Forbes’ young career.
One of the most exciting talents in West Ham’s academy not so long ago, Under-21 boss Mark Robson labelled Forbes an ‘exceptional’ talent when he made the jump up to Premier League 2 action at the age of just 17.
Former striker and now the club’s Loans and Pathways Manager, Carlton Cole admits West Ham plan to loan out goalkeeper Mason Terry as well this summer. Gideon Kodua, who captained the club at Under-18 level, has already made the relatively short trip to Luton Town.
Having worked with him twice at Wycombe Wanderers, coach Matt Bloomfield is convinced the Luton fans ‘will love’ Kodua once he settles into life at Kenilworth Road.
As for Swyer, an injury early in his Northampton career meant the winger was unavailable during Tuesday’s 0-0 friendly draw between Nolan’s side and Robson’s youngsters.
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