Mansfield Town have completed the signing of Nottingham Forest forward Joe Gardner on a season-long loan as Nigel Clough continues to reshape his squad for another League One campaign.
The 20-year-old arrives following a breakthrough year that saw him make his senior debut, play in a major cup final and earn international honours with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s.
Gardner Becomes Latest Forest Loanee to Join Stags
Gardner becomes the second Forest player to join Mansfield this summer, following the earlier arrival of defender Kyle McAdam. The move sees the Nottingham-born attacker reunited with his former B team teammate, as Clough looks to blend promising youth with proven experience on the back of last season’s play-off disappointment.
Able to operate anywhere across the front three or in an attacking midfield role, Gardner brings versatility and technical quality. He signed a new deal at the City Ground in January, keeping him contracted to Forest until 2027, before spending the second half of the 2024–25 season on loan at Lincoln City.
During his time at the LNER Stadium, he was sent off minutes after coming on for his debut. Bouncing back, he made 11 appearances for the Imps and scored his first senior goal in a win against Crawley Town in March. That form earned him a call-up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad, where he made his international debut against Scotland later the same month.
Clough Adds Energy and Creativity to Final Third
Gardner’s arrival provides a boost to a Mansfield side determined to go one step further after last season’s agonising play-off semi-final exit. Clough has spoken openly about wanting energy, creativity and movement in the final third, and Gardner ticks all three boxes.
Speaking from the club’s pre-season tour of Ireland, Gardner said:
“I’m really pleased to be signing for the club on a season-long loan. I’ve been out here only a couple of days and the lads have made me feel very welcome. I’m really looking forward to the season and hoping to impress across the course of the season.”
Writer’s View
This is exactly the kind of signing Mansfield needed to make. Joe Gardner brings pace, technical flair and hunger to impress, all wrapped in the profile of a player who’s already had a taste of senior football at a high level. While he may not be the finished article, he’s shown enough promise to suggest he can thrive in League One with regular minutes.
If Mansfield can get the best out of him, this could prove to be one of the more astute loans of the summer. For Gardner, it’s the perfect platform to turn potential into an end product.
