Carlos Forbs Scout Report 2026: How 17 Minutes Against Barcelona Changed a Career
Introduction
A 22-year-old, 5’7″ explosive one-v-one winger. Born Carlos Borges, he took his mother’s surname when he moved to Ajax. On 5 November 2025 he scored twice and assisted once against Barcelona in 17 minutes, earning Player of the Match in the Champions League — eleven days later he made his senior Portugal debut.
GegenSports’ question: was that single-match explosion a career turning point, or the visible tip of a season that was already building at Club Brugge?
Why He’s in the News Now
In a 3-3 Champions League draw away at Barcelona, Forbs used his pace to repeatedly break their high line — twice for goals, once for an assist, all inside 17 minutes. That display opened the door to his senior Portugal debut against Armenia on 16 November. Across the season he has 3 goals in 27 league games, 12 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions, and peaked in the play-offs with 5 goals in 10 games.
Match Study: Barcelona 3-3 Club Brugge (5 November 2025)
Both goals and the assist came from Forbs repeatedly exploiting Barcelona’s high line with pure pace. Producing three goal contributions in a 17-minute window against one of Europe’s elite defences is the clearest evidence of his volume-carry, 1v1-driven game — and it became the turning point of his career.
Career Path
Carlos Roberto Forbs Borges was born 19 March 2004 in Sintra, Portugal, of Bissau-Guinean descent. He came through Manchester City’s academy (2015-2023), moved to Ajax for around €14m in 2023 — adopting the surname Forbs at that point — spent 2024-25 on loan at Wolverhampton, and joined Club Brugge permanently in July 2025 for roughly €8m, on a contract through 2029.
He made the Team of the Tournament at the 2023 UEFA U19 Euros with Portugal. He once scored 25 goals with 13 assists in a single season for Manchester City’s U21s — the Brugge breakout is that potential finally showing at senior level.
Scout Report
Physical
169cm — small but explosive. His pace was the direct cause of both goals against Barcelona.
Technical
Tops the league in one-v-one win rate and volume carries. He leads in “progression score” — a blend of progressive runs, progressive passes and accelerations — a marker of how much he drives his team up the pitch.
Tactical
A right-sided, cut-inside, finishing-focused winger. 12 goals in 53 appearances mark him as a wide player who finishes himself, not just one who creates.
Mental
Earning a senior international debut eleven days after his Barcelona masterclass is evidence of composure under a spotlight. The name change from Borges to Forbs also reflects a willingness to rebuild his own identity mid-career.
Season Data (2025/26, Club Brugge)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| League appearances | 27 |
| League goals | 3 |
| All competitions apps / goals | 53 / 12 |
| Play-offs apps / goals | 10 / 5 |
| UCL highlight | vs Barcelona — 2 goals + 1 assist in 17 minutes |
Strengths
- League-leading one-v-one win rate and progressive carrying
- A genuine finisher, not just a creator — 12 goals in 53 games
- Proven big-match output on the Champions League stage vs Barcelona
- Form spike in the play-offs (5 goals in 10 games)
- Establishing himself with Portugal’s senior side
Recruitment Risks
- 169cm frame can be exposed in some physical league matchups
- 3 goals in 27 league games — unclear if Barcelona was the exception or the new normal
- Failed to settle at Manchester City and Ajax; Brugge stability is still just one season deep
The Süper Lig Reality
An €8m most-recent fee plus a rising valuation post-Barcelona puts Forbs within reach of mid-to-upper-budget Süper Lig clubs, though no longer a bargain. A freshly signed contract to 2029 makes a near-term move unlikely — but the price band is far more realistic than Coulibaly’s or Aseko’s.
Comparable Profiles
| Player | Club | Age | Shared trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rayan Cherki | Manchester City | 22 | Academy product, explosive 1v1 winger/ten |
| Antoine Semenyo | Bournemouth | 25 | Pace-driven winger who finishes his own chances |
| Pedro Neto | Chelsea | 26 | Portuguese winger with a Wolverhampton past |
Transfer Status
| Category | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Current contract | Club Brugge until 2029 |
| Most recent fee | ~€8m (Ajax → Club Brugge, July 2025) |
| Stays at Brugge (2026-27) | 60% |
Scout Verdict
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Scout rating | 7.6 / 10 |
| First-team ready | 7.0 / 10 |
| Investment upside | 7.5 / 10 |
Verdict: Carlos Forbs found the stability at Club Brugge that eluded him at Manchester City and Ajax, and earned continent-wide visibility against Barcelona. The price band is still reasonable — the second most realistic name in this batch for Süper Lig recruitment, behind Vale.
FAQ
Which club does Carlos Forbs play for?
Club Brugge (Belgian Pro League). Joined from Ajax in July 2025.
How old is he?
22 (born 19 March 2004, Sintra, Portugal).
Why did his name change?
Born Carlos Borges, he began using his mother’s surname, Forbs, upon joining Ajax.
What’s his national team status?
Made his senior Portugal debut on 16 November 2025 against Armenia.
Sources & Method
This GegenSports report draws on verified career data via Wikipedia, official Transfermarkt and UEFA.com statistics, Club Brugge’s official profile, and reporting from Yahoo Sports and Portugoal.net on the Barcelona match. Total Football Analysis’s report was used only as a discovery source; the analysis and conclusions here are independent.
