Kristoffer Ajer has signed a new Brentford contract running until summer 2030, giving the club stability before facing Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday. Brentford start the weekend seventh, targeting European qualification, while Forest arrive after mixed form in domestic and Europa League action.
Ajer moved from Celtic before Brentford’s first Premier League campaign and has developed into a regular starter in defence. The Norway international has already featured 16 times in the league this season, contributing to a backline that has helped secure strong home results at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Ajer explained how much the new deal means on a personal level and highlighted Brentford’s daily culture. "I'm really, really delighted"
said Ajer on his new deal. "It's a club where I've spent four and a half years of my career now, and I'm super happy to extend my stay here. The players, the backroom staff, and the whole club just feel like a real family for me, so being able to stay for four more years is really good. I've said it before, and I really mean it: this is probably the best club in the world from Monday to Friday! I look forward to driving in every day. I drive in with a smile on my face, knowing that I'm going to see so many friends and so many people striving to be better. It's a group of players that I really love spending time with. "
The defender underlined the competitive atmosphere inside the squad and how that shapes Brentford’s work during the week. That spirit will be important when Nottingham Forest visit, with both clubs seeking momentum in the league while balancing different pressures from European and domestic schedules.
Every single player in the dressing room is driving to become better; it's a really healthy environment at Brentford right now Kristoffer Ajer is 'super happy' to extend his stay in west London for another four-and-a-half-years pic.twitter.com/B5EZRdutXNBrentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 22, 2026
Recent Opta estimates suggest Brentford enter the meeting as clear favourites on home turf. Their win probability is assessed at 55.4 per cent, while Nottingham Forest’s chance of victory is rated at 21.6 per cent, with the draw outcome given a 23.0 per cent likelihood.
Home form has been a major factor in those projections. Brentford have claimed 24 Premier League points at the Gtech Community Stadium this season, a total bettered only by Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa. Brentford have lost once at home, with seven wins and three draws from ten games.
Brentford’s attacking style also shapes the outlook. No side in the Premier League have more goals from direct attacks this season, with Brentford scoring five times in that way. Forest, by contrast, have struggled defensively in similar situations and have allowed three goals from direct attacking moves.
Forest still carry historical encouragement into the fixture. The club aim to complete a league double over Brentford for the third time, having previously managed it in the 2006-07 League One season and the 2019-20 Championship campaign. Forest also won this fixture 2-0 last season, although Brentford have never suffered successive home league defeats against Forest.
Forest’s recent run has been mixed. Sean Dyche’s side earned a goalless draw against league leaders Arsenal in their last Premier League outing, showing defensive discipline. That result followed a 1-0 defeat away to Braga in the Europa League, a match that checked their growing confidence on the continent.
The loss in Portugal contained several key moments. Ryan Yates turned the ball into his own net for the decisive goal, Morgan Gibbs-White missed a penalty, and Elliot Anderson received a late red card for dissent. Those incidents left Forest frustrated but still within reach of Europa League progress.
After the Braga defeat, Yates stressed that Forest remain positive about their overall direction under Dyche. "I think we have progressed a lot, Yates told TNT Sports after the loss to Braga. We are frustrated as I think we have done enough to win the game. Frustrating when results don't go your way. We have missed an opportunity and that's why we're frustratednot that we were terrible on the night. Fine margins. We have to keep working and put that right. We are still in a solid position in the competition. No negativity in the dressing room, that's for sure. "
Individual performances could strongly influence Brentford vs Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, with both sides boasting in-form attackers. Igor Thiago has been vital for Brentford this season, while Gibbs-White has become a central figure in Forest’s creative and scoring threat away from home.
Igor Thiago has scored 16 goals for Brentford in all competitions this season, already setting a new benchmark for a Brazilian player in a single Premier League campaign. The last South American player to hit a higher league tally was Sergio Aguero, who netted 21 goals for Manchester City in the 2018-19 season.
Morgan Gibbs-White arrives in London with strong away form. Gibbs-White has found the net in Forest’s last two Premier League matches on the road. Only Taiwo Awoniyi and Chris Wood have previously scored in three consecutive Premier League away games for Forest, with Awoniyi managing four and Wood three.
Both teams, therefore, bring clear strengths into Brentford vs Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, with Brentford leaning on strong home numbers and direct attacking play, and Forest relying on resilience under Dyche and Gibbs-White’s influence. The match also offers Ajer a chance to celebrate his new contract in front of home supporters.
