“It didn’t go as planned, At Dortmund we finished in the top-five guaranteed & played Champions League every year, At Forest, I saw the other side of it”- USMNT star Gio Reyna finally speaks out on struggles during Nottingham Forest loan

Gio Reyna has outlined what he is looking for as the United States international contemplates his next move after a failed spell at Nottingham Forest.

Having fallen out of favour at Borussia Dortmund this season, Reyna hoped he would get more regular playing time by joining the Premier League side on loan in January. He racked up just 231 minutes in the English top-flight as he started just two of his nine appearances for Forest.

Although he is contracted to Dortmund until 2026, the 21-year-old is not expected to have much more luck getting into Edin Terzic’s starting XI next season and is hoping to find a new club. The attacking midfielder and winger says he has held talks with other teams and wants assurances about playing time, having learned his lesson from his Forest disappointment.

WHAT REYNA SAID

“It didn’t go as planned,” he told The Athletic of the loan spell in England. The goal was to go there and play games and get really consistent minutes but the club was under a lot of pressure and things happen. It’s never that simple, going on loan for three to four months. I was blessed to be at Dortmund for a few years, finishing top-five guaranteed and playing Champions League every year. At Forest, I saw the other side of it. It gave me a perspective of a different kind of football. One day, I’d love to go back to the Premier League, so to get a taste of that was also really valuable for me going forward.”

A strong showing at Copa America with the USMNT could spark further interest in Reyna and he says his focus is fully on the tournament in his homeland, but says he has already had talks over a new move.

He added: “I’m really focused on the national team at the moment. There’s been discussions and I’m not quite sure what’s going to happen. I just want to go somewhere that is at the highest possible level, but still play an important role, get consistent minutes and be an important player for any team, whether it’s at Dortmund or somewhere else. I’m just looking for the right fit for me, playing at a high level and a club that wants me — where I feel valued.”