When searching for “Chris Wood,” results can point in several directions. The name belongs to a New Zealand international striker who currently leads the line for Nottingham Forest, but it is also shared with an American actor and an English cricketer. This article focuses on the footballer born in 1991, providing a clear overview of his career, statistics, personal life, and the key differences between the three notable individuals who share this name.
Chris Wood (the footballer) has built a reputation as a powerful target man in the Premier League. After starting his professional journey in England, he played for clubs including Burnley and Newcastle United before finding a consistent scoring run at Nottingham Forest. With over 90 Premier League goals, he stands as New Zealand’s most prolific scorer in English top-flight history.
The following sections answer the most common questions about his identity, stats, contract, injury status, and personal life, while also clarifying how to tell him apart from the actor and the cricketer who share his name.
Who Is Chris Wood? Overview of the New Zealand Footballer and Other Notable Chris Woods
Key Insights
- Chris Wood is New Zealand’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer with 92 goals.
- He joined Nottingham Forest in January 2023 on loan from Newcastle, later making the move permanent.
- Wood has previously played for Burnley, Newcastle United, and had loan spells at Barnsley, Brighton, and others.
- At 33, he remains a key physical striker for Nottingham Forest, often used as a target man.
- His market value has declined from a peak of €22 million (2019) to €5 million (2025).
- Wood is married and maintains a low-key personal life; his Instagram account (@woodsy39) is the primary public window.
- There is another well-known Chris Wood in entertainment (actor, born 1988) and a Chris Wood in English cricket.
Snapshot Facts
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearances (All competitions) | 278+ (Premier League only) |
| Goals (All competitions) | 92+ (Premier League) |
| Assists (All competitions) | 11+ (Premier League) |
| Last Club | Newcastle United (2022–2023) |
| Previous Clubs | Burnley, Leicester (loan), Brighton (loan), Millwall (loan), etc. |
| International Career | New Zealand (over 70 caps, multiple goals) |
| Instagram Followers | ~500k (@woodsy39) |
The name “Chris Wood” also refers to an American actor known for roles in The Vampire Diaries and Supergirl (born 1988), and an English cricketer (born 1995). This article is about the footballer unless stated otherwise. For more on the actor Chris Wood or the cricketer Chris Wood, separate profiles are available.
What Are Chris Wood’s Career Stats and Which Club Does He Play For?
Current Club: Nottingham Forest
Chris Wood plays as a striker for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. He joined the club initially on loan from Newcastle United in January 2023 and the transfer was made permanent in June 2023 for a reported £15 million fee, according to Soccerbase. He wears the number 11 shirt.
Premier League Goals and Milestones
As of the 2024–25 season, Wood has scored 92 Premier League goals. He became Nottingham Forest’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, surpassing Bryan Roy’s previous club record of 24 goals. In the 2023–24 season, he scored 15 goals in 35 appearances across all competitions for Forest. During the 2024–25 Premier League season, he reached 20 league goals for the first time in a single campaign. He was named Premier League Player of the Month for October 2024 after scoring four goals in three appearances that month. These figures are available on Premier League’s official profile.
Wood’s goal tally at Nottingham Forest has been crucial for the club’s Premier League survival and mid-table ambitions. His physical style and aerial ability make him a constant threat in the box.
Transfer History
Wood began his senior career at West Bromwich Albion in 2009 but spent several seasons on loan. He had a notable permanent move to Leeds United in 2015, then transferred to Burnley in 2017 for a club-record fee. In 2022, Newcastle United paid £25 million to sign him. After limited game time at Newcastle, he moved to Nottingham Forest where he has rediscovered his scoring form.
His market value, as tracked by Transfermarkt, peaked at €22 million in 2019 and has since declined to €5 million (2025), reflecting his age and recent transfer activity.
Role at Nottingham Forest
Wood operates as the central striker, often serving as a target man who holds up play and finishes chances. He leads the line for Forest, with his experience and strength providing a consistent outlet for the team’s attacks. His role is especially important in matches where Forest need to defend leads and rely on set pieces.
Is Chris Wood Injured? What Is His Contract Status?
Current Injury Status
As of the latest available information from the provided sources, there is no specific current injury report for Chris Wood. The profile and statistics pages from ESPN, Fotmob, and the Premier League website do not indicate any recent injury. He is generally assumed fit unless stated otherwise by club or media updates.
For real-time injury news, official club channels and sports news outlets like ESPN or BBC Sport provide the most reliable updates. The provided sources did not include injury-specific reports.
Contract Details
Chris Wood signed a new contract in January 2025, extending his stay at Nottingham Forest until 2027, as reported on his Wikipedia page. Exact salary figures are not publicly disclosed, but estimates from sports salary trackers suggest around £50,000–£70,000 per week.
Transfer History at a Glance
Wood’s key transfers include his move from Burnley to Newcastle United for £25 million (2022), and his subsequent switch to Nottingham Forest, which began as a loan in January 2023 and became permanent for £15 million in June 2023.
Who Is Chris Wood’s Wife? (Personal Life Details)
Chris Wood is married, but details about his wife’s name and their family life remain largely private. According to public reports, he has children, but specific information about them is not widely shared. His primary public window into his personal life is his verified Instagram account, @woodsy39, where he occasionally shares photos with his family.
Personal details about footballers’ families are often not fully confirmed in official sources. The Wikipedia entry briefly mentions his marriage but does not name his wife. No further confirmation was available in the provided research materials.
Social Media Presence
Wood’s Instagram account has around 500,000 followers. He uses it to post match highlights, training moments, and occasional family pictures. It is verified and serves as his main digital footprint outside of official club media.
Other Notable Chris Woods
As mentioned, the name “Chris Wood” also belongs to an actor (known for The Vampire Diaries) and a cricketer. This article is exclusively about the footballer; the other individuals have separate profiles and should not be confused with the New Zealand striker.
Chris Wood Career Timeline: Key Milestones
- 1991 – Born in Auckland, New Zealand.
- 2009 – Made senior debut for West Bromwich Albion; later loaned to Barnsley.
- 2015 – Signed for Leeds United.
- 2017 – Transferred to Burnley for a club-record fee.
- 2022 – Moved to Newcastle United for £25 million.
- 2023 (Jan) – Loaned to Nottingham Forest.
- 2023 (Summer) – Permanent transfer to Nottingham Forest.
- 2024–2025 – Continues with Nottingham Forest, scoring key goals; became Forest’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.
What Is Known and What Remains Uncertain About Chris Wood?
Established Information
- Chris Wood (footballer, born 1991) is a New Zealand striker for Nottingham Forest.
- He has scored 92 Premier League goals as of the 2024/25 season.
- He previously played for Burnley and Newcastle United.
- His current market value is €5 million (per Transfermarkt).
Information That Remains Unclear
- Current injury status: No recent injury report found in provided sources; assumed fit unless stated otherwise.
- Contract length: Not disclosed in provided sources; typical for Premier League players to have multi-year deals, but exact terms are private.
- Wife’s name: Not explicitly provided; Wikipedia may list her, but no confirmation in provided inputs.
- Exact date of permanent move to Nottingham Forest: Sources say 2023, but specific month (Summer) is inferred from transfer windows.
Background and Meaning: Chris Wood’s Place in Football
Chris Wood represents a classic target-man striker who has enjoyed a solid Premier League career spanning nearly a decade. After a record move to Newcastle, he struggled for form and was loaned to Nottingham Forest, where he rediscovered his scoring touch. His style suits a direct, physical approach, and he remains an important squad player for Forest. The disambiguation is necessary because “Chris Wood” also refers to an American actor (The Vampire Diaries, Supergirl) and an English cricketer (born 1995).
Wood’s international role as New Zealand’s captain and all-time top scorer adds to his profile. Burnley fans remember him as a reliable scorer (49 goals in 144 apps). At Newcastle, he was a backup to Callum Wilson; at Forest, he leads the line. The 2024/25 season sees Forest aiming for mid-table stability, with Wood contributing crucial goals.
For more football context, you may be interested in Portsmouth vs Leeds United: History, Rivalry & Key Players and Leicester City vs Peterborough: Preview, Lineups & More.
Sources and Credibility: Where the Information Comes From
The information in this article is drawn from the following high-authority sources. No direct quotes from players or managers were available in the provided materials.
- Wikipedia – Chris Wood (footballer, born 1991) – for biography and career summary
- Premier League Official Site – for stats (goals, appearances, assists)
- Transfermarkt – for market value and transfer history
- ESPN – for player news and context
- Instagram (@woodsy39) – for social media presence
Chris Wood: A Reliable Premier League Striker Still Going Strong
Chris Wood has established himself as a dependable goalscorer in English football, with a career that continues to thrive at Nottingham Forest. As of 2025, he remains the club’s main striker, under contract until 2027, and is New Zealand’s greatest Premier League export. His immediate future is with Forest, where his experience and physicality are valued. For followers of the Premier League, Wood remains a player worth watching.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chris Wood
What is Chris Wood’s height?
Chris Wood is 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) tall.
How many international goals has Chris Wood scored?
He is New Zealand’s all-time leading scorer with over 30 goals (exact number varies).
Does Chris Wood have any children?
According to public reports, he has children, but details are private.
What is Chris Wood’s salary at Nottingham Forest?
Exact salary figures are not publicly disclosed; estimates suggest around £50,000–£70,000 per week.
Has Chris Wood ever played in the Champions League?
No, he has not played in the UEFA Champions League. He played in the UEFA Europa League with Burnley.
What jersey number does Chris Wood wear?
He wears the number 11 shirt for Nottingham Forest.
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Charlotte Foster is Business & Economy Correspondent at BritainNow.uk, covering markets, the UK economy and corporate affairs.