King’s Lynn sign young midfielder from Premier League Nottingham Forest

King's Lynn Town have raided a Premier League club for their fifth piece of summer transfer business.

Not too many players have made the step from the top flight to The Walks, but that's the path Sam Collins has taken as he looks to rebuild his career.

The former Nottingham Forest midfielder happily admits that Lynn's ambitions mirror his.

The 21-year-old, who had been on Forest's books for more than a decade, was also part of the U18 Reds side that reached the FA Youth Cup final in 2022.

Collins said: "There are massive ambitions for this club this season and in the coming years, so I'm really happy to be a part of that.

"They want to achieve great things. I just want to play as much football as I possibly can, try to be consistent with my performances, and see where that takes me.

"Hopefully, that can be as a King's Lynn player in the next few years, which I'm excited about."

Lynn was recommended to the energetic midfielder by former Peterborough United and Ipswich Town youth coach Sam Darlow, who now works at the City Ground.

"It was the Nottingham Forest under-18 assistant manager, Sam Darlow, with whom I've got a really good relationship," said Collins.

"There was interest from clubs all over England and even Scotland and Wales, higher up, but Sam spoke massively of King's Lynn.

"He knows a few people here and said it'd be something that I shouldn't turn my nose up at. He kind of sorted it out a little bit behind the scenes.

"Once I spoke to the manager, I think he was keen as well to bring me in. I think it was a bit out of the blue, but I'm really happy to be here and that's all that matters."

Collins refuses to see the drop down to the National League North as a downward trajectory in his career.

"From conversations with the manager and other people that I know in the game, they say don't be surprised when you realise the quality is very good at this level.

"So, I'm not underestimating the level. I think it's going to be a tough challenge, but like I said to you previously, I think the club's got great ambitions, so we want to be at the forefront of this division, hopefully come the end of the season.

"But I'm expecting it to be physical and tough. Some teams want to play, some teams might want to be a bit more direct, but yeah, I'm ready for anything and I'm sure the club are as well for the season."

Collins was at the City Ground for more than a decade and, despite training with the first team squad, he found his chances limited, partly down to a horrific injury.

He broke his right leg back in 2023 during the club's B Team win over Carlisle United at Brunton Park, which dented his progression with the Tricky Trees.

"In the last 18 months or so, in general, it has been really difficult," said Collins, reflecting on his bad injury.

"It's something I've not been used to, not playing as much as I would have hoped, being in the gym and kind of working on your rehab.

"It's been a very strange and kind of unique time in my life, but I'm someone who always thinks everything happens for a reason and I don't like to think about all the things that could have been.

"I'm happy that I'm here, it's nothing to do with the fact that, you know, I've had a bit of a down slope in my career.

"I still think it's a great opportunity for me, a great club where I can thrive. There's no denying that I think the broken leg has changed things, but I just see it as a small setback."

And the youngster remains as ambitious as ever as he looks to get his career back on track.

"I'll never hide my ambitions," he said.

"I still want to be a top player and I still think I can be a top player, but as I said, I don't see this as a stepping stone. I think I'd be quite disrespectful to call this club a stepping stone. I think we can progress as a club.

"I think in a couple of seasons, as I mentioned a few times, I think we can push on to the level above or even the level above that, but we've just got to work really hard.

"So I don't see this club as just a stepping stone. I think it's a great step for my career, of course it is, but I don't intend on just doing a season or so here and then just jumping ship.

"I want to achieve great things with this club, however long that might be."