Michael Forbes

Following his move to Dundee Utd, Forbes's current-season form is level with last season (Season 11→11), while his Rating climbed 43→45. His peak season for form remains 2025/26 (Season 11).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Dundee Utd · 11th	3	0	0	7.03	45	11
2025/26	NorthamptonLoan · 24th	22	2	1	6.81	43	11
2024/25	Bristol Rovers · 22nd	7	0	0	6.48	38	2

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 6 youth-team spells in the full career.

Northern Ireland · international

Side	Apps	G
Northern Ireland	1	0
Northern Ireland U21	8	0
Northern Ireland U19	5	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral defender

M. Forbes is a 22-year-old central defender at Northampton, rated 42.9 overall by Field Insider's model. An emerging talent, he has been a rotation option this season (39.9% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.29 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Forbes.

On the season, Forbes graded 11 for current form (age-blind), on 4 clean sheets and 2.29 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 11 → 11). Over the 3 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2025/26.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 43. At 22 Forbes is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 9.1 reflects that trajectory.

42.9

Ratingi

developing / rotation level

10.8

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

39.9%

Minutes

rotation minutes

2.29

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Northampton finished 24th of 24 · a relegation-threatened side

Apps

2.29

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.29 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 22 appearances. Doing that for a relegation-threatened side (24th of 24) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.16 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central defender.

Watch points

Game time. Only 39.9% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 42.9 overall — developing / rotation level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.29 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 1.9×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %39.9%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.109

Assists / 900.055

Goal contribution / 900.164

Defensive actions / 902.29

Player flow

Goal involvements3

Cards / 900.055

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~10), then tapers with age. At 22, Forbes sits on 9.1, still climbing toward its peak. The blue line is Forbes's projected Rating — 42.9 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the Premiership with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals2

Passing

Assists1

Defending

Tackles12

Interceptions20

Blocks10

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards1

Red cards0

Transfer history

Dundee UtdJun 2026 – nowFree

West Ham(back from loan)May 2026 – Jun 2026

Northampton(on loan)Jul 2025 – May 2026

West Hamuntil Jul 2025

About M. Forbes

Michael Forbes is a 22-year-old centre-back who plays for Dundee Utd, born on April 29, 2004 in Ardboe, standing 188 cm tall. He is from Northern Ireland. Dundee Utd currently sit 11th of 12 in the Premiership.

This season

In the current season, M. Forbes has made 3 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 275 minutes, averaging a 7.03 match rating over his last 3 rated games.

Recent matches

August 22, 2026: 0-2 loss at home vs Dundee (95 minutes, 7.7 rating)
August 9, 2026: 0-4 loss away at Heart Of Midlothian (90 minutes, 6.2 rating)
July 31, 2026: 1-1 draw at home vs Rangers (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)

M. Forbes's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Dundee Utd face Kilmarnock away in the Premiership.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates M. Forbes at 42.9 with a Season form score of 10.8. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 1 career title — among them the UEFA Conference League. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 7 recorded seasons, M. Forbes has totalled 95 club appearances with 5 goals and 1 assist for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2025/26, with 22 appearances for Northampton.

M. Forbes's career has also included time at West Ham and Northampton.

On the international stage, M. Forbes has represented Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland U21, Northern Ireland U19 — 14 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.