Chris Wood – Stats, Club, Salary, Injury & Personal Life 2025

When Nottingham Forest needed a reliable centre-forward in early 2023, they turned to a New Zealand international who had already scored more than 50 Premier League goals. Christopher Grant Wood, born in Auckland on 7 December 1991, had built a reputation as a physical, right-footed striker capable of thriving in England’s top division. By the end of the 2024–25 season, he had not only become Forest’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer but had also reached 20 league goals in a single campaign for the first time in his career.

Wood’s journey from Hamilton Wanderers in New Zealand to the City Ground spans more than a decade and includes spells at West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City, Leeds United, Burnley, Newcastle United, and now Nottingham Forest. He captains the All Whites, New Zealand’s national team, and holds the record for most Premier League goals by any New Zealand player. His career, statistics, personal life, injury updates, and common misconceptions about his identity are covered in detail below.

Who Is Chris Wood? (Biography & Background)

Key Insights at a Glance

• Chris Wood is the all-time leading Premier League goal-scorer from New Zealand.
• He played for multiple clubs including Burnley, Leeds United, and Leicester City before joining Nottingham Forest.
• His transfer from Burnley to Newcastle United in 2022 was a club-record fee at the time.
• Wood has over 90 Premier League goals and 278 appearances as of the 2025–26 season.
• He is known for his physical presence (1.91 m) and right-footed finishing.

Snapshot Facts

Which Club Does Chris Wood Play For? – Career & Stats

Chris Wood currently plays for Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League. He joined the club on 1 July 2023 for a reported €17 million after an initial loan spell from Newcastle United in January 2023, during which he scored one goal in seven matches. Since making the move permanent, Wood has scored 40 goals in 95 appearances for Forest across all competitions.

The 2024–25 season was a landmark campaign. By mid-January he had already netted 14 goals in 22 matches, and he finished the season with 20 Premier League goals, his first time reaching that milestone in a single season. In doing so, he surpassed Bryan Roy’s long-standing club record of 24 Premier League goals to become Nottingham Forest’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.

Career Journey Across Clubs

Wood’s professional career in England began at West Bromwich Albion’s academy after he moved from New Zealand in 2010. He had loan spells at several clubs before joining Leicester City in 2013, where he won the Championship title in the 2013–14 season. A prolific spell at Leeds United followed between 2015 and 2017, where he scored 44 goals in 88 matches. Burnley signed him in August 2017 for €16.4 million, and he became a regular Premier League striker, netting 53 goals in 165 appearances across all competitions. In January 2022, Newcastle United paid a club-record €30 million to bring him to St James’ Park, though his time there yielded five goals in 39 matches before he moved to Nottingham Forest. Another experienced Premier League forward who has navigated a varied career path is Jesse Lingard – Corinthians, Net Worth, Age & Career Stats 2025.

International Career

Wood made his senior debut for New Zealand in 2009 at age 17. As of 2025, he has earned 91 caps and scored 45 goals for the All Whites, making him the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer. He has been particularly prolific in recent years, scoring seven goals in six matches in 2024 and four goals in eight matches in 2025. He captained New Zealand to victory in the OFC Nations Cup, securing one title.

What Is Chris Wood’s Salary and Personal Life?

Exact salary figures for Chris Wood are not publicly disclosed by his club or representatives. However, his transfer history provides context: Newcastle United paid €30 million for him in 2022, and Nottingham Forest paid €17 million in 2023. Based on typical wage structures for Premier League strikers of his experience, his weekly earnings are believed to exceed £100,000, though this remains unconfirmed by official sources.

Net Worth Estimates

Analysts estimate Wood’s net worth to be in the multi-million pound range, likely between £5 million and £10 million. This estimate considers his long Premier League career, significant transfer fees, and commercial activities tied to his role as New Zealand’s most prominent footballer. No official figure has been confirmed by Wood or his representatives.

Personal Life

Chris Wood is married. While his wife is often reported as Lily Wood in media and fan sources, this information has not been officially confirmed by the player through high-authority channels. Wood keeps his personal life relatively private, and no further details about his family are widely documented.

What Injury Does Chris Wood Have? (Latest Updates)

As of the most recent data from Sofascore, Chris Wood was listed as injured. The nature of the issue appears to be short-term, and no major long-term injury has been reported in his career summary. Throughout his professional career, Wood has generally maintained good fitness and has not suffered any significant, career-threatening injuries.

Given his age and the physical demands of the Premier League, minor knocks are not unusual for a centre-forward. Wood’s track record suggests he typically recovers quickly from such issues. For the most current injury status, official club channels and Premier League match reports remain the best sources.

How Did Chris Wood’s Career Progress Over the Years?

Wood’s rise from a teenager in New Zealand to a record-breaking Premier League striker followed a steady, year-by-year progression. Below are the key milestones of his professional career.

1. 2009: Senior debut for New Zealand at age 17.
2. 2010: Moved to West Bromwich Albion’s academy system.
3. 2013: Joined Leicester City in the Championship, winning the title in 2013–14.
4. 2015: Transferred to Leeds United, where he scored 44 goals in 88 matches.
5. 2017: Moved to Burnley for €16.4 million and established himself in the Premier League.
6. 2022: Joined Newcastle United for a club-record €30 million.
7. 2023: Signed permanently for Nottingham Forest for €17 million.
8. 2025: Became Nottingham Forest’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer and finished the season with 20 league goals.

Is Chris Wood an Actor or a Cricketer? (Common Misconceptions)

A frequent source of confusion online involves the name “Chris Wood,” which is shared by several public figures. The footballer Chris Wood is exclusively a professional athlete and has no career as an actor, cricketer, or singer. The table below separates established facts from areas that remain unclear.

Established Information vs. Unclear Information

Wood is not the British singer Chris Wood (associated with Jethro Tull or the 1970s folk scene), nor is he a cricketer. He plays in the English Premier League, not a New Zealand domestic league. These distinctions address the most common search confusion.

Why Does Chris Wood Matter for New Zealand Football?

Wood is widely regarded as New Zealand’s most successful footballer in the Premier League. His career of more than a decade at the highest level of English football is unmatched by any other New Zealand player. His role as captain of the All Whites adds to his national significance.

His playing style as a target man—using his height, strength, and right-footed finishing—has made him effective at multiple clubs. While he has been criticized for inconsistency at times, his goal-scoring record across Burnley, Leeds United, and Nottingham Forest demonstrates sustained output. The transfer fees paid for him reflect the high market demand for proven Premier League strikers.

As of 2025, Wood remains a regular starter for Nottingham Forest and continues to lead New Zealand’s attack. His contract at the City Ground runs until 30 June 2027, suggesting the club views him as a key part of its plans for the foreseeable future.

Where Do These Facts About Chris Wood Come From?

The information in this article is drawn from publicly accessible sources, including official league profiles, established sports databases, and media reports. Below are selected quotes from authoritative sources.

“Chris Wood has been a consistent goal-scorer in the Premier League and a leader for New Zealand.”

— Premier League official profile (premierleague.com)

“Wood joined Forest in 2023 and has brought experience and physicality to the attack.”

— ESPN player analysis (espn.co.uk)

“He is New Zealand’s most successful footballer in terms of top-level appearances and goals.”

— Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

What Is the Bottom Line on Chris Wood?

Chris Wood is a 34-year-old New Zealand centre-forward who plays for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and captains his national team. With over 90 Premier League goals, 216 career goals across all competitions, and a historic 2024–25 season in which he scored 20 league goals and became Forest’s all-time leading Premier League scorer, he has cemented his place as the most accomplished New Zealand footballer in the history of England’s top flight. For a detailed look at another experienced Premier League forward, see the profile on Jesse Lingard – Corinthians, Net Worth, Age & Career Stats 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chris Wood