Chris Wood in 2026: Net worth and Salary, Wife, Stats, Injury, Transfer values, and FAQs

Net Worth and Salary

Chris Wood has been earning Premier League wages for more than a decade now, and that long run at the top has built him a solid fortune. Icon Polls estimates that his net worth in 2026 sits between $40 million and $42 million. That figure pulls together his career earnings, property in both England and New Zealand, brand deals, and a careful set of personal investments.

At Nottingham Forest, his weekly wage is reported at around £90,000, which works out to roughly £4.6 million a year before bonuses. His current deal, signed as a three-year extension in January 2025, is worth a reported £14 million in total and keeps him at the City Ground until June 2027. When image rights and appearance bonuses are added in, his real package is comfortably higher than the base number.

It is also worth remembering that Wood has cashed in on big transfers along the way. His move from Burnley to Newcastle United in January 2022 was worth £25 million, the most ever paid for a footballer from Oceania at the time. His permanent switch to Forest in 2023 cost the club another £15 million. Those moves, on top of years of steady wages, are the real engine behind his wealth.

Parents

Chris Wood was raised by Grant Wood and Julie Wood. The family lived in Auckland before moving to Hamilton when Chris was 11. That move turned out to be the most important shift of his early life because it opened the door to Cambridge FC, the local club where his football really started taking shape.

Grant has always kept a quiet life away from cameras, but people close to the family say he was the steady, no-nonsense voice that kept Chris grounded as the offers started rolling in. Julie, who is originally from England, gave Chris the English heritage that made his eventual move to West Bromwich Albion in 2009 feel less like a culture shock and more like a homecoming. Both parents still follow his career closely and travel to England when they can.

He also has a sister, Chelsey Wood, who is a footballer in her own right and represented New Zealand at under-20 level. The two grew up playing the game together, and Chris has said in past interviews that some of his earliest practice came from kicking the ball around in the backyard with her.

Wife

Chris is married to Emma Lovell Wood. The two were together for several years before tying the knot in June 2024. Emma grew up in Nottingham, studied law at Manchester Metropolitan University, and qualified as a solicitor in 2021. She now works in residential conveyancing and keeps a deliberately low profile compared with many Premier League partners.

In April 2025, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Camille Lily Wood. Chris famously announced the pregnancy by celebrating a goal against Crystal Palace by tucking the ball under his shirt and sucking his thumb, a moment that warmed even neutral fans. Icon Polls findings show the Wood family is one of the most quietly private football households at the top level right now.

Before Emma, Chris had a publicly known relationship with English footballer Kirsty Linnett from 2017 to 2020.

Stats

Across club and country, Chris Wood has built a serious goalscoring record. He has notched more than 175 goals across roughly 488 senior club appearances, and 45 goals in 87 caps for New Zealand, where he is the all-time leading men's goalscorer.

The 2024/25 season was the best of his Premier League career. He finished with 20 league goals for Nottingham Forest, helped the club reach the FA Cup semi-finals, and earned himself a contract extension in early 2025. It also pushed him into the small club of New Zealanders to have scored 20 in a top-flight European league season.

The 2025/26 campaign has been quieter due to a long injury spell and squad rotation. Through early June 2026, Wood has registered 3 Premier League goals across 906 minutes and a separate goal in Forest's Europa League run against Midtjylland. His average match rating sits at around 6.5.

Career highlights worth knowing:

Over 200 senior career goals across all competitions

20 Premier League goals in 2024/25, a career best

Top Premier League scorer in club history for both Burnley and Nottingham Forest

All-time top men's goalscorer for New Zealand with 45 international goals

Captain of the All Whites since 2017

Injury

Wood's 2025/26 season was hit hard by knee trouble. He picked up a short knee issue in mid-October 2025, returned briefly, and then suffered a more serious knee injury that kept him out from October 19, 2025, to March 19, 2026. He came back without needing surgery and spent the spring rebuilding match sharpness.

Icon Polls observations suggest that careful minute management for the rest of his Forest contract will be the difference between him retiring on his own terms and being forced into an early end. At 34, the body recovers more slowly, and Forest's medical team are openly cautious about how often he goes 90 minutes back to back.

Transfer Values

Wood's current market value in mid-2026 sits at around €5.5 million. That is a long way from his peak valuation of around €25 million in 2017, but the drop is normal for a striker in his mid-30s with a recent long injury and a contract winding down.

Here is a quick look at his main career transfers:

2009: Onehunga Sports / Waikato to West Bromwich Albion (youth move)

2015: Leicester City to Leeds United for around £3 million

2017: Leeds United to Burnley for around £15 million

2022: Burnley to Newcastle United for £25 million, an Oceania record

2023: Newcastle United to Nottingham Forest for £15 million after a loan spell

In the spring of 2026 there were soft links to clubs in the Saudi Pro League and MLS, both of which often look for experienced strikers heading into the back end of their careers. Forest, for now, still see him as a useful first-team option. Icon Polls findings point to a strong chance of one final overseas move before retirement, though nothing has been agreed publicly.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How old is Chris Wood in 2026?

Chris Wood is 34 years old in 2026. He was born on December 7, 1991, and will turn 35 in December 2026.

2. Where is Chris Wood from?

He was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and grew up in Hamilton after his family moved when he was 11.

3. What position does Chris Wood play?

He plays as a striker or centre-forward, best known for his hold-up play, strength in the air, and clinical finishing inside the box.

4. What is Chris Wood's net worth in 2026?

Icon Polls estimates his net worth sits between $40 million and $42 million in 2026, made up of career earnings, brand deals, and personal investments.

5. How much does Chris Wood earn at Nottingham Forest?

He earns roughly £90,000 per week, which adds up to about £4.6 million a year before bonuses and image rights.

6. How tall is Chris Wood?

Chris Wood is 1.91 metres tall, or roughly 6 feet 3 inches.

7. Who is Chris Wood's wife?

He is married to Emma Lovell Wood, a British solicitor from Nottingham. They got married in June 2024.

8. Does Chris Wood have children?

Yes. He and Emma have a daughter named Camille Lily Wood, born in April 2025.

9. Who are Chris Wood's parents?

His parents are Grant Wood and Julie Wood. His mother is originally from England, which gave him close family ties to the UK before he moved there for football.

10. Does Chris Wood have siblings?

He has one sister, Chelsey Wood, who has also played football and represented New Zealand at under-20 level.

11. What clubs has Chris Wood played for?

He has played for West Bromwich Albion, Barnsley, Brighton, Birmingham City, Bristol City, Millwall, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Burnley, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest. He started his senior career at Cambridge FC in New Zealand.

12. When did Chris Wood join Nottingham Forest?

He first joined on loan in January 2023 and made the move permanent in June 2023 for around £15 million.

13. How many goals has Chris Wood scored for Nottingham Forest?

He has scored more than 35 goals for Nottingham Forest across all competitions since joining, with his best return coming in the 2024/25 season.

14. How many international goals has Chris Wood scored?

He has scored 45 goals in 87 appearances for the New Zealand national team, making him the country's all-time leading men's goalscorer.

15. Is Chris Wood the captain of New Zealand?

Yes. He has been captain of the All Whites since 2017 and has led the team through World Cup qualifying campaigns and Oceania tournaments.

16. What is Chris Wood's current market value?

His market value in mid-2026 is around €5.5 million, reflecting his age, his recent knee injury, and the fact that his contract is winding down.

17. Has Chris Wood been injured this season?

Yes. He suffered a knee injury that kept him out from October 19, 2025, to March 19, 2026, and was still rebuilding match fitness through the spring of 2026.

18. When does Chris Wood's contract expire?

His contract with Nottingham Forest runs until June 30, 2027.

19. Was Chris Wood ever the most expensive Oceania footballer?

Yes. His £25 million move from Burnley to Newcastle United in January 2022 made him the most expensive player ever signed from Oceania at the time.

20. Does Chris Wood have brand deals?

He has a long-standing boot deal with Nike and a handful of smaller commercial partnerships in both New Zealand and England, which add to his off-pitch income.

21. What was Chris Wood's best season?

The 2024/25 Premier League season was his best, finishing with 20 league goals for Nottingham Forest and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.

22. Could Chris Wood leave Nottingham Forest in 2026?

There have been quiet links to MLS and Saudi Pro League clubs. Nothing has been confirmed, but a final overseas move before retirement is realistic given his age and contract status.