Tyrese Fornah


Tyrese Momodu Fornah is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for club Northampton Town. Born in England, he plays for the Sierra Leone national team.
Fornah graduated for the academy at Nottingham Forest, but struggled to break into the first team and had loan spells at Casa Pia, Plymouth Argyle, Shrewsbury Town and Reading. In August 2023, Fornah left Forest to join local rivals Derby County in a rare direct transfer between clubs. A year later, he joined Salford City on a season-long loan; Fornah was released by Derby in June 2025.

Club career

Nottingham Forest

Fornah was a member of the Nottingham Forest academy, having joined following his release from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2018. He signed a contract with Forest on 11 December 2019 that would keep him at the club until the summer of 2022.
Fornah made his professional debut on 5 January 2020, appearing as a 69th-minute substitute during a 3rd round FA Cup game against Chelsea.
On 31 January 2020, Fornah moved on loan to Portuguese LigaPro side Casa Pia for the remainder of the season, making five appearances.
He signed for League One side Plymouth Argyle on 2 October 2020 on a season-long loan.
On 18 January 2022, Fornah joined League One side Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the season.
On 8 July 2022, it was announced that Fornah had signed on a season-long loan with Championship side Reading. Despite an extended period of limited playing time, Fornah expressed an interest in signing permanently for the Royals.

Derby County

On 25 August 2023, Fornah joined EFL League One club Derby County on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. A day later, Fornah made his debut in Derby's 4–2 win at Peterborough United, as a 81st minute substitute for Conor Hourihane. Fornah started his career at Derby well, with his composure on the ball and aggression off it winning over fans, Fornah himself stated that he had settled in to life at Derby well. In the second half the season, Fornah would struggle for game time to a decline in performances and injuries. Fornah made 23 appearances during his first season at Derby, as the club secured automatic promotion to the Championship by finishing runners-up in League One.
Fornah featured in Derby's first match of the 2024–25 season, as an 86th minute substitute against Blackburn Rovers on 9 August 2024. On 14 August 2024, Fornah would join League Two club Salford City on a season-long loan. On 26 December 2024, Fornah scored his first goal for Salford City in a 3–0 win after Barrow, a game where he was also sent off for two bookable offences. He played 43 times for Salford during his loan spell, scoring once as Salford missed out on a place in the League Two play-offs by one point and place.
On 16 May 2025, it was announced that Fornah's contract at Derby would not be renewed upon expiry in June 2025; he played 24 times for Derby County over two seasons.

Northampton Town

On 26 June 2025, Fornah joined EFL League One club Northampton Town on a three-year contract.

International career

In November 2023, Fornah received his first call-up to the Sierra Leone national team for World Cup Qualifiers against Ethiopia and Egypt.

Personal life

Born in England, Fornah is of Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean descent.

Honours

Derby County