Carlos Forbs says snubbing West Ham for Ajax was a “Logical Decision”

Carlos Forbs has taken a winding route from Lisbon to Manchester, Amsterdam, Wolverhampton and now Bruges — but the 21-year-old insists every step has made sense. Speaking to Het Belang van Limburg, the Club Brugge winger reflected on the moment he rejected West Ham United in 2023 and why choosing Ajax felt like the “logical decision” at the time.

Forbs’ story is already unusually international. Born in Portugal, he spent a year at Sporting’s academy before his family relocated to England due to work. Sporting wanted him to stay so badly they even offered his parents jobs. But at ten years old, Forbs followed his family to Leeds — and soon, Manchester City spotted his potential.

Eight years in City’s youth system shaped him, but by early 2023–24 he felt he was hitting a ceiling. With senior chances limited, Forbs began pushing for a move. West Ham wanted him and made a clear approach. But Ajax, with their historic commitment to youth and reputation as a springboard for elite talent, ultimately won him over.

Looking back now as a Club Brugge standout and newly-capped Portugal international, Forbs is certain he made the right call.

The winger made his thought process clear during the interview. West Ham offered Premier League football and a pathway under David Moyes, but Ajax represented something different: identity, opportunity, and tradition.

“In the summer, I could choose between Ajax or West Ham,” he said. “Ajax is the biggest team in the Netherlands, with quite a bit of history and trophies, so that was a logical decision.”

This wasn’t about status alone. Forbs wanted guaranteed first-team exposure, something Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City couldn’t immediately provide and something West Ham couldn’t fully promise either. Ajax, meanwhile, needed wide players and were actively rebuilding their squad.

Although his spell in Amsterdam was mixed and a loan at Wolves didn’t work out, Forbs insists he has “no regrets.”

In our view, having followed multiple Portuguese prospects transitioning from academies to senior football, Forbs’ reasoning tracks completely. Ajax remain one of the few clubs in Europe where attackers regularly receive minutes early regardless of transfer fee or age. West Ham would have given him a tougher, more physical environment — but far less tactical freedom.

One of the most striking parts of Forbs’ interview was recalling how Sporting tried to keep him. His family’s move to England was supposed to come with a simple agreement: if they couldn’t settle within 15 days, they would return to Portugal.

HBVL report that Forbs’ father even promised Sporting he would bring his son back if things didn’t work out.

“Right. I said, ‘Okay, nice.’ But he actually found a [Manchester City] team,” Forbs laughed.

City’s interest ended any possibility of returning. His father drove him to training every day, and Forbs climbed the youth ranks quickly. That grounding — technical, structured, intense — still shows in his game today.

After a difficult Wolves loan, Club Brugge offered him a fresh start and a system built to his strengths: vertical, quick, transition-heavy football with freedom for wide attackers. It has paid off impressively.

Forbs has played 21 matches for Club Brugge this season, scoring five goals and supplying five assists. More importantly, he has earned a call-up to Portugal’s senior squad — a milestone that validates the winding path he has taken.

From my experience tracking young wingers across the Primeira Liga, Eredivisie and Premier League, the biggest differentiator is not talent but adaptability. Forbs has already experienced four football cultures before turning 22. That resilience often becomes a major advantage later, especially for explosive attacking players who rely on confidence and continuity.

Although some observers might argue he should have stayed in England, the nuance tells a different story. West Ham would have been a high-pressure, low-margin environment for a then-20-year-old who had never played regular senior football. Ajax — even in a turbulent season — still gave him visibility, minutes, and a stepping stone to Brugge.

In our view, the move to Belgium might be the turning point. Forbs now plays in a competitive league where young attackers are trusted to be decisive, and where good form leads quickly to international recognition. The fact he’s already made Portugal’s squad proves national team scouts rate his current environment more than his previous ones.

Another important point: some fans assume that leaving Manchester City means failing to “make it.” But Forbs’ path shows how development isn’t linear. Modern elite players often emerge after two or three moves — think Cunha, Pedro Neto, even Riyad Mahrez. Forbs fits that mould more than the academy-to-superstar pipeline.

If Forbs maintains his level, a summer move becomes increasingly realistic. Brugge have a track record of selling for profit, and Premier League clubs may revisit their interest now that he has senior output and international recognition. The next six months could define his long-term trajectory.

👉 Did Carlos Forbs make the right choice turning down West Ham — or would the Premier League have accelerated his rise?