Nottingham Forest Midfielder Ben Hammond Joins Boston United Following City Ground Departure
Boston United have strengthened their squad ahead of the new season by securing the signature of midfielder Ben Hammond, who has officially completed his move after bringing an end to his long association with Nottingham Forest.
The 22-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the National League club, becoming the Pilgrims’ tenth addition during an active summer transfer window. His arrival at the Jakemans Community Stadium marks the end of a remarkable 13-year journey with Nottingham Forest, where he developed through every stage of the club’s academy system before becoming a regular figure within their reserve and Under-21 setup.
Hammond first joined Forest as a youngster and steadily progressed through the club’s youth ranks, earning a reputation as a composed and technically gifted midfielder. While he never made a competitive senior appearance for the first team, he remained highly regarded within the club’s development structure. During his time with the Reds, he represented the Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy and accumulated well over 100 appearances for Forest B, demonstrating both consistency and durability across several seasons.
His progress also earned him recognition at first-team level. Last season, Hammond was included in Nottingham Forest’s UEFA Europa League matchday squads for fixtures against Sturm Graz, Braga, and Ferencváros. Although he did not feature on the pitch in those encounters, his inclusion reflected the confidence the coaching staff had in his abilities and his proximity to breaking into the senior setup.
Seeking valuable first-team experience, Hammond spent the second half of last season on loan at Northampton Town. The temporary move provided him with his first sustained exposure to senior football away from the City Ground and offered an important opportunity to continue his development in a competitive environment.
Following the conclusion of his Forest career, Hammond has now opted for a fresh challenge with Boston United, where he is expected to play an important role in Paul Hurst’s plans for the upcoming National League campaign. His versatility is regarded as one of his greatest strengths, with the ability to operate comfortably in central midfield while also providing cover as a central defender when required. That adaptability gives Boston additional tactical options as they continue assembling a competitive squad for the new season.
Hammond joins a growing list of summer recruits at the club. Before completing his arrival, Boston United had already strengthened their ranks with the additions of Gavan Holohan, Nicholas Pozo, Kai Mauro, Terrell Agyemang, George Ward, Jack Holmes, Connor McBride, Lewis Shipley, and several other new faces as preparations intensify ahead of the new campaign.
Meanwhile, there has also been movement in the opposite direction. Defender Michael Kelly has left Boston United by mutual agreement after just one season with the club. The 28-year-old joined from Scunthorpe United last summer but spent the second half of the previous campaign on loan at Chester FC in the National League North. Kelly departs after making 11 appearances for the Pilgrims during his time at the club.
Boston have also reinforced their goalkeeping department with the loan signing of 21-year-old goalkeeper Luke Faxon from Sheffield United. Faxon has joined on an initial loan deal running until January 4 and will compete with Louis Chadwick for the club’s first-choice goalkeeper position throughout the first half of the season.
Attention will now turn to pre-season preparations, with Boston United set to welcome Lincoln City for their opening friendly fixture this weekend. Meetings between the two Lincolnshire clubs have become a familiar feature of recent pre-season schedules. Their previous encounters have produced contrasting results, with Lincoln City recording a commanding 7-0 victory two years ago before Boston responded by securing an impressive 5-0 win in the following summer’s meeting. Both sides will now look to use the latest contest as an opportunity to build fitness and momentum ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
