Chris Wood

Christopher Grant Wood is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a forward for Nottingham Forest and captains the New Zealand national team. He is one of just six New Zealanders to have played in the Premier League and holds his country's records for both appearances and goals. Wood is known for his powerful, physical style, strong aerial ability, and consistent goal-scoring at the top level.

As of 2026, Wood has established himself as a proven Premier League striker with over 100 top-flight goals. He became Nottingham Forest's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer and finished the 2024-25 season with 20 goals, his personal best in a single campaign. Internationally, he has represented New Zealand at two World Cups and led the team to an OFC Nations Cup title.[edit]

Wood grew up in Auckland and showed early promise in youth football, playing for Onehunga Sports until 2002 and then Cambridge from 2003 to 2006. At age 11, he moved to Hamilton and attended St Paul's Collegiate School. He represented New Zealand at under-17 level and was a standout performer at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which earned him a trial with West Bromwich Albion. His senior career began in New Zealand with Cambridge in 2006, followed by Hamilton Wanderers in 2007 where he scored 16 goals in 17 appearances, and Waikato from 2007 to 2008 before moving to England in 2009. He made his international debut for New Zealand against Tanzania on 3 June 2009.[edit]

Wood signed for West Bromwich Albion in 2009 and represented the All Whites at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. After loan spells at Barnsley, Brighton, Birmingham City, Millwall, and Bristol City, he joined Leicester City in 2013. A loan at Ipswich Town preceded a permanent move to Leeds United in 2015. At Leeds, Wood became the Championship top scorer in 2016-17 with 27 goals, earning a transfer to Burnley for a club record fee. Over four and a half seasons, he scored 49 Premier League goals in 144 matches. In January 2022, he joined Newcastle United for £25 million, becoming the most expensive Oceania player ever. He moved to Nottingham Forest in 2023 and became the club's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, surpassing Bryan Roy's record of 24 goals. In the 2024-25 season, he scored 20 Premier League goals, a personal best. Internationally, Wood has won the 2016 OFC Nations Cup and played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He holds New Zealand records for caps (91) and goals (45).[edit]

Wood is widely respected for his professionalism, work ethic, and consistent goal-scoring. Media portrayals emphasize his remarkable journey from New Zealand youth football to becoming a Premier League record-breaker. Fans appreciate his powerful, physical playing style and aerial ability. He maintains a relatively low-key public profile, letting his performances on the pitch speak for themselves. He stands at 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in).[edit]

Chris Wood commands a dedicated following across the Pacific and the Premier League, though his support base remains a standard sports constituency rather than a structured fandom with a formal name. There are no organized campaigns, viral rituals, or fan-funded projects attached to his career; instead, his audience consists of footballers who track his aerial dominance and goal-scoring consistency for Nottingham Forest and the All Whites. The narrative surrounding him is one of steady professional ascent, highlighted by his pivotal role in New Zealand's 2026 World Cup qualification, yet this has not evolved into the mythological lore seen with other global icons. While fans celebrate his physical presence and work ethic, the connection remains grounded in match-day performance rather than deep cultural mythology. His standing as a national record-holder ensures he is a household name in New Zealand, but internationally, his fame is specific to football circles. According to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, Chris Wood is currently ranked as the 8th most famous person from New Zealand, holding steady from the previous cycle.[edit]

Christopher Grant Wood stands at 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) and holds the distinction of being one of just six New Zealanders to have played in the Premier League. His move to Newcastle United in 2022 made him the most expensive Oceania player of all time. He ranks second among all New Zealand internationals, male or female, for international goals, trailing only Amber Hearn. Wood began his senior career at age 14-15 with Cambridge in New Zealand, and his standout performance at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup directly led to his trial and subsequent move to England. Throughout his career, he has also played for West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City, Burnley, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest. As of the 2024-25 season, he finished with 20 goals, marking his personal best in a single campaign. Internationally, he captains the New Zealand national team and has established himself as a proven Premier League striker with over 100 top-flight goals.[edit]

Wood was born on 7 December 1991 in Auckland to parents Grant and Julie Wood. His mother is originally from England. He attended St Paul's Collegiate School in Hamilton. Wood is married and has children, but he keeps his family life private and does not publicly share their names or details.[edit]

Wood has worked with several notable managers and teammates throughout his career. At Burnley, he played under Sean Dyche alongside James Tarkowski, Nick Pope, and Ashley Barnes. At Newcastle United, he was managed by Eddie Howe and played with Callum Wilson, Bruno Guimarães, and Kieran Trippier. At Nottingham Forest, he is managed by Nuno Espírito Santo and plays alongside Morgan Gibbs-White, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Anthony Elanga. Internationally, he has been coached by Ricki Herbert and played with Winston Reid, Ryan Nelsen, and Tommy Smith for New Zealand. [edit]

Chris Wood is married and has children, though he keeps his family life private. He does not publicly discuss his relationship details. As of 2026, he remains married.[edit]

iFANN currently estimates that Chris Wood possesses a net worth of $4.4 Million as of 2026, derived primarily from tournament prize money and appearance fees over his professional career. He has earned over £1 million in prize money on the European Tour, with additional income from endorsements and sponsorship deals. While exact figures for endorsements are not publicly available, they contribute a modest portion to his overall wealth. Unlike his footballer namesake, he does not have a large salaried contract; his earnings fluctuate based on performance and tournament participation. It is important to note that there are multiple public figures named Chris Wood, including a footballer and an actor, whose finances are separate and often more substantial.[edit]

Wood won the OFC Nations Cup with New Zealand in 2016 and was the Championship top scorer in the 2016-17 season with 27 goals for Leeds United. [edit]