{{short description|Portuguese footballer (born 2004)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Portuguese name|Forbs|Borges}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Carlos Forbs |image = Carlos Forbs).jpg |image_size = 175px |caption = Forbs with Ajax in 2024 |alt = |full_name = Carlos Roberto Forbs Borges |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2004|3|19|df=y}} |birth_place = Sintra, Portugal |height = 1.69 m |position = Winger |currentclub = Club Brugge |clubnumber = 9 |youthyears1 = 2011–2014 |youthclubs1 = {{Abbr|NADCC Sintra|Núcleo Actividades Desportivas e Culturais do Concelho Sintra}} |youthyears2 = 2014–2015 |youthclubs2 = Sporting CP |youthyears3 = 2015–2023 |youthclubs3 = Manchester City |years1 = 2023–2025 |clubs1 = Ajax |caps1 = 22 |goals1 = 2 |years2 = 2024 |clubs2 = Jong Ajax |caps2 = 2 |goals2 = 1 |years3 = 2024–2025 |clubs3 = → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) |caps3 = 10 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 2025– |clubs4 = Club Brugge |caps4 = 35 |goals4 = 7 |nationalyears1 = 2020 |nationalteam1 = Portugal U16 |nationalcaps1 = 3 |nationalgoals1 = 1 |nationalyears2 = 2022 |nationalteam2 = Portugal U18 |nationalcaps2 = 3 |nationalgoals2 = 1 |nationalyears3 = 2022–2023 |nationalteam3 = Portugal U19 |nationalcaps3 = 16 |nationalgoals3 = 2 |nationalyears4 = 2023– |nationalteam4 = Portugal U21 |nationalcaps4 = 18 |nationalgoals4 = 5 |nationalyears5 = 2025– |nationalteam5 = Portugal |nationalcaps5 = 1 |nationalgoals5 = 0 |pcupdate = 21 May 2026 |ntupdate = 23:15, 16 November 2025 (UTC) |medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}} {{Medal|Country|{{fb|POR}}}} {{MedalCompetition|UEFA European Under-19 Championship}} {{Medal|RU|2023 Malta|}} }}
'''Carlos Roberto Forbs Borges''' (born 19 March 2004) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Belgian Pro League club Club Brugge and the Portugal national team.
==Club career== ===Early career=== Born in Sintra, Lisboa Region, Forbs started playing football there, before enjoying a season-short spell at Sporting CP in the capital. He moved to England at the age of around 11, where he attended high-school at the Cooperative Academy of Leeds, but soon caught the eye of many Premier League scouts, joining the Manchester City academy in 2015.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Guerra |first=Francisco |date=7 September 2022 |title=Carlos Borges, a nova coqueluche do Manchester City |url=https://www.record.pt/internacional/paises/inglaterra/man--city/detalhe/carlos-borges-a-nova-coqueluche-do-manchester-city |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=Record |language=pt-PT}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Brennan |first=Stuart |date=1 February 2022 |title=Man City have another Portuguese star in the making |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-fourth-portuguese-star-22948856 |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |date=6 September 2022 |title="Hat-trick" do português Carlos Borges pelo Manchester City na Youth League - Renascença |url=https://rr.sapo.pt/bola-branca/noticia/futebol-internacional/2022/09/06/hat-trick-do-portugues-carlos-borges-pelo-manchester-city-na-youth-league/298663/ |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=Rádio Renascença |language=pt-pt}}</ref>
In Manchester, he progressed through all of the youth categories, becoming a regular provider of goals and assists with the under-18 and under-23 teams, as City won both national tournaments between 2020 and 2022.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bajkowski |first=Simon |date=19 May 2022 |title=Man City exciting winger Carlos Borges is out to make up for lost time |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-carlos-borges-news-23994644 |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Jonathan |date=6 July 2022 |title=Palmer, Kayky, Delap and the Man City wonderkids who could follow in Foden's footsteps |url=https://www.goal.com/en/lists/man-city-wonderkids-follow-foden-footsteps-guardiola/blted2fe87992e938e3#cse937436fa5ddb288 |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=Goal}}</ref> He was named under-18 player of the season for Manchester City in May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 June 2021 |title=Manchester City fans laud 'insane' Carlos Borges after U-18 award |url=https://tbrfootball.com/manchester-city-fans-laud-insane-carlos-borges-after-u-18-award/ |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=The Boot Room |language=en-US}}</ref>
By the end of 2021, he made his Youth League debut, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 away pool win against RB Leipzig.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Lawless |first=Josh |date=6 September 2022 |title=18-year-old Manchester City prospect Carlos Borges is a serious talent, his stats are crazy |url=https://www.sportbible.com/football/man-city-carlos-borges-stats-20220906 |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=SPORTbible |language=en}}</ref>
He made headlines in September 2022, as he scored a hat-trick and delivered an assist during Manchester City's opening game of the Youth League, a 5–1 away win against Sevilla.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 September 2022 |title=A nova pérola portuguesa no Man. City: Carlos Borges deu show em Sevilha |url=https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/desporto/2067656/a-nova-perola-portuguesa-no-man-city-carlos-borges-deu-show-em-sevilha |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=Notícias ao Minuto |language=pt}}</ref> He also proved to be instrumental a month later, with a goal and an assist in the 3–1 win at Copenhagen.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brotherton |first=Alex |date=11 October 2022 |title=Carlos Borges sends Pep Guardiola message in Man City EDS Youth League win |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-eds-copenhagen-youth-25234377 |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref> In the 2022–23 season, he scored 25 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions for Manchester City U21.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://es.besoccer.com/noticia/carlos-borges-perla-lusa-espera-llamada-guardiola-1266267 |title=Carlos Borges, la perla lusa que espera la llamada de Guardiola |publisher=BeSoccer |language=es |date=7 July 2023 }}</ref>
===Ajax=== On 3 August 2023, Forbs signed for Eredivisie club Ajax on a five-year contract in a €14 million deal, which could rise to €19 million with variables.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ajax sign Carlos Roberto Forbs Borges |url=https://english.ajax.nl/articles/ajax-sign-carlos-roberto-forbs-borges/ |website=AFC Ajax |access-date=3 August 2023 |date=3 August 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66401124|title=Man City forward Borges joins Ajax in £17.3m deal|work=BBC Sport |date=3 August 2023 }}</ref> Nine days later, he made his professional debut for the Amsterdam side, coming off the bench to replace Brian Brobbey in the final minutes of a 4–1 home victory over Heracles Almelo, in the 2023–24 Eredivisie's opening game-week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 August 2023 |title=Ajax 4 - 1 Heracles Almelo: Nyförvärven levererade direkt |trans-title=Ajax 4 - 1 Heracles Almelo: The new signings delivered straight away |url=https://www.svenskafans.com/europa/ajax/ajax-4-1-heracles-almelo-nyforvarven-levererade-direkt-660474 |access-date=25 September 2023 |website=SvenskaFans.com |language=sv}}</ref> Ten days later, in the next league match, away to Excelsior, Forbs started and assisted Brobbey's opener, before being replaced by Davy Klaassen in the 60th minute; the game ended in a 2–2 draw.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-19 |title=Com Francisco Conceição de fora, Carlos Borges assiste mas Ajax tropeça |trans-title=With Francisco Conceição out, Carlos Borges assists but Ajax stumbles |url=https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/desporto/2383513/com-francisco-conceicao-de-fora-carlos-borges-assiste-mas-ajax-tropeca |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=Notícias ao Minuto |language=pt-pt}}</ref> On 24 August, he made his debut in European competitions, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 4–1 win away at Ludogorets Razgrad, in the UEFA Europa League play-off round.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=24 August 2023 |title=Ludogorets vs Ajax |url=https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/uefa-europa-league/ludogorets-vs-ajax-2023-08-24 |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=beIN SPORTS |language=en-us}}</ref> On 21 September, in an Europa League group stage match at home to Marseille, Forbs scored his first professional goal and also provided an assist; the game ended in a 3–3 draw.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 2023 |title='Show' do português Carlos Borges no empate entre Ajax e Marseille |trans-title=Portuguese Carlos Borges 'show' in draw between Ajax and Marseille |url=https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/desporto/2404798/show-do-portugues-carlos-borges-no-empate-entre-ajax-e-marseille |access-date=25 September 2023 |website=Notícias ao Minuto |language=pt-pt}}</ref>
===Wolverhampton Wanderers=== On 30 August 2024, Forbs returned to England and joined Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers on an initial season-long loan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forbs deal concludes transfer window |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20240831-forbs-deal-concludes-transfer-window/ |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers |access-date=31 August 2024 |date=31 August 2024 }}</ref>
=== Club Brugge === On 17 July 2025, Forbs joined Belgian Pro League side Club Brugge for a reported fee close to €8 million, signing a four-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sportredactie |first=Onze |date=17 July 2025 |title=Ajax verkoopt Forbs aan Club Brugge en raakt weer aankoop van Mislintat kwijt |url=https://www.nu.nl/voetbal/6362919/ajax-verkoopt-forbs-aan-club-brugge-en-raakt-weer-aankoop-van-mislintat-kwijt.htm |url-status=live |access-date=5 November 2025 |website=NU.nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-17 |title=Carlos Forbs joins Club Brugge |url=https://www.clubbrugge.be/en/news/carlos-forbs-naar-club-brugge-90 |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=Club Brugge |language=en}}</ref> He made his debut for the club as a 46th minute substitute for Hugo Vetlesen against Genk on 27 July, entering the field while his team was 0–1 down in an eventual 2–1 win.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club Brugge vs Genk: First Division A stats & head-to-head |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cdjx1lkwrryt |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Belgian |first=Get |last2=read |first2=Dutch Football News·1 min |date=2025-07-29 |title=Former Premier League and Eredivisie struggler makes great impression at Club Brugge |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/article/former-premier-league-eredivisie-struggler-150000438.html |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> On 5 November 2025, Forbs scored twice and provided an assist in a 3–3 draw against Barcelona in the Champions League league phase, being named Player of the Match for his efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-06 |title=Portuguese youngster Carlos Forbs dazzles for Club Brugge against Barcelona in 3-3 draw: “Today is a dream come true” |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/portuguese-youngster-carlos-forbs-dazzles-for-club-brugge-against-barcelona-in-3-3-draw-today-is-a-dream-come-true-41911749 |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=OneFootball |language=en}}</ref>
==International career== Born in Portugal, Forbs is of Bissau-Guinean descent.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Op zucht van gigastunt: Club Brugge dwingt grootmacht Barcelona tot het uiterste en blijft teleurgesteld achter met punt |url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/eur/uefa-champions-league/2025-2026/leaguefase/04/club-brugge-fc-barcelona-op-zucht-van-gigastunt-club-brugge-dwingt-grootmacht-barcelona-tot-het-uiterste-en-blijft-teleurgesteld-achter-met-punt~1750780984552/ |website=kicker}}</ref> He is a youth international for Portugal. By 2022, he became a regular starter with the Portuguese under-19s.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Silva |first=Flávio Miguel |date=16 September 2022 |title=Sporting domina escolhas de Joaquim Milheiro |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/selecoes/sub19/detalhe/sporting-domina-escolhas-de-joaquim-milheiro |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=Record |language=pt-PT}}</ref>
On 8 September 2023, Forbs made his debut for Portugal's under-21s, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 home win over Andorra, in a qualifier for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 September 2023 |title=Tarde de estreias e números especiais |trans-title=Afternoon of debuts and special numbers |url=https://www.fpf.pt/pt/News/Todas-as-not%C3%ADcias/Not%C3%ADcia/news/41366 |access-date=2023-09-25 |website= |publisher=FPF |language=pt-PT}}</ref>
Forbs was called up to the Portugal senior team on 8 November 2025 for the 2025 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Republic of Ireland and Armenia respectively.<ref>{{cite news|title=Convocatória para Rep. Irlanda e Arménia|url= https://www.fpf.pt/pt/News/Todas-as-not%C3%ADcias/Not%C3%ADcia/news/53730|publisher=Federação Portuguesa de Futebol|date=7 November 2025|language=pt}}</ref> He made his senior national debut on 16 November, coming off the bench to replace Bernardo Silva and winning a penalty in a 9–1 victory over Armenia, at the Estádio do Dragão, as Portugal secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=16 November 2025 |title=Forbs é o 14.º estreante de Martínez e logo com o 7 nas costas |trans-title=Forbs is Martínez's 14th debutant and with the 7 on his back |url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/selecao-nacional/forbs-e-o-14o-estreante-de-martinez-e-logo-com-o-7-nas-costas_d1698623 |access-date=16 November 2025 |publisher=RTP |language=pt-pt}}</ref>
==Personal life== Formerly known as '''Carlos Borges''', the player has opted to play using his mother's surname as '''Carlos Forbs''' since he joined Ajax in August 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://portugoal.net/portuguese-abroad/3335-ajax-complete-signing-of-portuguese-forward-carlos-forbs-from-manchester-city | title=Ajax complete signing of Portuguese forward Carlos Forbs from Manchester City }}</ref>
== Career statistics ==
=== Club === {{Updated|match played 21 May 2026|<ref>{{Soccerway|carlos-borges/649886}}</ref>}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes KNVB Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Manchester City U21 |2022–23 |colspan="3"|—||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3{{efn|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}||4||3||4 |- |rowspan="3"|Ajax |2023–24 |Eredivisie |21||2||1||0||colspan="2"|–||10{{efn|Eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}}||1||colspan="2"|–||32||3 |- |2024–25 |Eredivisie |1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||5{{efn|name=UEL|Apperanaces in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|–||6||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !22!!2!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!15!!1!!colspan="2"|–!!38!!4 |- |Jong Ajax |2023–24 |Eerste Divisie |2||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||2||1 |- |Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) |2024–25 |Premier League |10||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||11||0 |- |Club Brugge |2025–26 |Belgian Pro League |35||7||0||0||colspan="2"|–||13{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||3||0||0||48||10 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !69!!10!!1!!0!!1!!0!!28!!4!!3!!4!!102!!18 |} {{notelist}}
=== International === {{updated|match played 16 November 2025}}<ref name="EUFoot">{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=33353|title=Carlos Forbs|website=EU-Football.info|access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |Portugal |2025||1||0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total!!1!!0 |}
==Honours== '''Individual''' *UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under19/news/0283-188925cf78ce-ee90559b6d3b-1000--u19-euro-team-of-the-tournament/|title=2023 Under-19 EURO Team of the Tournament|website=UEFA }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerway|carlos-borges/649886}}
{{Club Brugge KV squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forbs, Carlos}} Category:2004 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Sintra Category:Portuguese men's footballers Category:Portugal men's international footballers Category:Portugal men's youth international footballers Category:Portugal men's under-21 international footballers Category:Portuguese people of Bissau-Guinean descent Category:Sportspeople of Bissau-Guinean descent Category:Black Portuguese sportspeople Category:Men's association football wingers Category:Manchester City F.C. players Category:AFC Ajax players Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players Category:Club Brugge KV players Category:Eredivisie players Category:Eerste Divisie players <!--Category:Premier League players--> Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Category:21st-century Portuguese sportsmen