# Nikola Milenković (Никола Миленковић)
**Nikola Milenković** (Никола Миленковић; born 1997 in Belgrade) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a center-back, and occasionally at right-back, for Nottingham Forest and the Serbia national team[1](https://fss.rs/igrac/nikola-milenkovic/?script=lat). Standing 195 cm tall, he came through Partizan's academy, spent seven seasons at Fiorentina in [Serie A](https://www.edgepedia.org/serie-a), and joined Nottingham Forest in 2024, where he wears the No.31 shirt[1](https://fss.rs/igrac/nikola-milenkovic/?script=lat) • [2](https://nottinghamforest.football/2026/09/11/nikola-milenkovic-nottingham-forest-profile-2/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1997, Belgrade; height 195 cm[1](https://fss.rs/igrac/nikola-milenkovic/?script=lat) |
| Position | Centre-back, also able to play right-back[3](https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/soccer/news/who-is-nikola-milenkovic-the-50m-rated-fiorentina-defender-scouted-by-man-utd/1w8a0ctmql4ed1axmgls5hkokf) |
| Clubs | FK Teleoptik (loan), FK Partizan, ACF Fiorentina, Nottingham Forest[4](https://www.reprezentacija.rs/milenkovic-nikola/) |
| Fiorentina transfer | Signed for 5.1 million euros, deal agreed January 2017, presented July 2017[4](https://www.reprezentacija.rs/milenkovic-nikola/) |
| Serbia | Debut 4 June 2018 vs Chile; 72 caps, 3 goals per the Football Association of Serbia[4](https://www.reprezentacija.rs/milenkovic-nikola/) • [1](https://fss.rs/igrac/nikola-milenkovic/?script=lat) |
| Major tournaments | 2018 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024 with Serbia[4](https://www.reprezentacija.rs/milenkovic-nikola/) • [5](https://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article/2024/06/11/euro-2024-decouvrez-l-equipe-de-serbie-en-une-minute_6238550_3242.html) |
| Career totals | 458 matches, 29 goals, 8 assists (all competitions, per FootyStats)[6](https://footystats.org/players/serbia/nikola-milenkovic) |
## Early career at Partizan
Milenković joined Partizan at age 15 after a trial at the academy, and as a youngster was compared to the former Manchester United captain [Nemanja Vidić](https://www.edgepedia.org/nemanja-vidic)[7](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce786jede11o). According to the Serbian national-team archive, he was not initially rated as exceptionally talented and did not hold a scholarship contract; he was loaned to Teleoptik of Zemun for the 2015/16 season before returning to Partizan's first team in early 2016 at the insistence of Ivan Tomić, who saw potential in the 195 cm defender[4](https://www.reprezentacija.rs/milenkovic-nikola/).
He debuted in the [Serbian SuperLiga](https://www.edgepedia.org/serbian-superliga) on 10 April 2016 in a 4-0 win over Mladost Lučani. Early in his career he received a straight red card against Čukarički for a foul that sidelined Petar Bojić for six months, and in the final round of the 2015/16 season he scored in a 3-2 win over [Vojvodina](https://www.edgepedia.org/vojvodina), the club's 100th league goal of the season. He played 4 league matches with 1 goal that season, then became a regular in 2016/17 with 32 appearances and 2 goals[4](https://www.reprezentacija.rs/milenkovic-nikola/).
His Partizan career ended with a decisive moment: in his last match for the club he scored the only goal in a 1-0 Serbian Cup final win over [Red Star Belgrade](https://www.edgepedia.org/red-star-belgrade), completing a domestic double[4](https://www.reprezentacija.rs/milenkovic-nikola/) • [7](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce786jede11o). After only 36 games for Partizan he earned his transfer abroad[7](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce786jede11o).
## Fiorentina
Fiorentina signed Milenković for 5.1 million euros in a deal agreed in January 2017, and he was officially presented in July 2017[4](https://www.reprezentacija.rs/milenkovic-nikola/). He played 16 Serie A matches in his first season and 34 with 3 goals in 2018/19[4](https://www.reprezentacija.rs/milenkovic-nikola/).
His combination of physicality and versatility made him a target for larger clubs. In December 2018, Italian transfer reporting described him as one of the most highly valued young center-backs in European football, noting that [Atlético Madrid](https://www.edgepedia.org/atletico-madrid)'s sporting director had made a 40 million euro offer the previous summer, which Fiorentina declined in expectation of a higher price later, and that Juventus and Manchester United were also linked[8](https://as.com/futbol/2018/12/30/primera/1546165134_781756.html).
Scouting analyses from his Fiorentina years describe a defender who combines intelligent reading of the game and positioning with strength and strong aerial ability, comfortable in possession and able to build patiently from the back[9](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/nikola-milenkovic-fiorentina-tactical-analysis). A 2021 scout report highlighted his aerial prowess, man-marking, and concentration during set-piece phases, and noted his tactical flexibility across multiple positions[10](https://scoutingbetweenthelines.wordpress.com/2021/06/06/scout-report-nikola-milenkovic/).
## Nottingham Forest
Milenković moved to Nottingham Forest in 2024 and took the No.31 shirt[2](https://nottinghamforest.football/2026/09/11/nikola-milenkovic-nottingham-forest-profile-2/). Forest manager [Nuno Espírito Santo](https://www.edgepedia.org/nuno-espirito-santo) described him as "contagious to be around" when discussing his impact at the club[11](https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11096/13238944/nikola-milenkovic-interview-nottingham-forest-defenders-impact-explained-nuno-he-is-contagious-to-be-around).
In the Premier League 2025/26 season he played 38 matches as a defender, conceding 48 goals and keeping 9 clean sheets[6](https://footystats.org/players/serbia/nikola-milenkovic). In September 2026 he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out of matches including the game at Aston Villa[12](https://nottinghamforest.football/2026/09/12/nikola-milenkovic-jair-cunha-injury-aston-villa/).
## Serbia national team
Milenković debuted for Serbia on 4 June 2018 in a pre-World Cup friendly against Chile in Graz, and was a member of the squad at the 2018 [FIFA World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-world-cup) in Russia, playing in the group-stage matches against [Costa Rica](https://www.edgepedia.org/costa-rica), Switzerland, and Brazil[4](https://www.reprezentacija.rs/milenkovic-nikola/). He was named in Serbia's Euro 2024 squad and started the group matches against England, Slovenia, and Denmark[5](https://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article/2024/06/11/euro-2024-decouvrez-l-equipe-de-serbie-en-une-minute_6238550_3242.html) • [13](https://www.lemonde.fr/sport/live/2024/06/16/en-direct-euro-2024-serbie-angleterre-suivez-le-match-du-groupe-c_6240799_3242.html). The Football Association of Serbia credits him with 72 caps and 3 goals for the national team[1](https://fss.rs/igrac/nikola-milenkovic/?script=lat).
## Style of play
Milenković is a right-footed center-back whose defining attributes are his height, aerial dominance, and physical strength. At Forest, at 6 ft 5 in, he wins almost everything in the air, which is the first thing opposition coaches plan around[2](https://nottinghamforest.football/2026/09/11/nikola-milenkovic-nottingham-forest-profile-2/). He is also comfortable on the ball: he plays progressive diagonals when available but defaults to keeping possession moving without inviting pressure[2](https://nottinghamforest.football/2026/09/11/nikola-milenkovic-nottingham-forest-profile-2/).
His versatility has been a recurring theme of his career. He can play at right-back as well as center-half, with the technical skills needed for the full-back role in the modern game, and he is especially effective in the air when jumping on the run[3](https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/soccer/news/who-is-nikola-milenkovic-the-50m-rated-fiorentina-defender-scouted-by-man-utd/1w8a0ctmql4ed1axmgls5hkokf) • [14](https://www.player-profiles.co.uk/player-profiles/player-profiles-nikola-milenkovic.php).
## References
1. [Nikola Milenković, Fudbalski savez Srbije](https://fss.rs/igrac/nikola-milenkovic/?script=lat)
2. [Nikola Milenkovic Nottingham Forest: The No.31 Explained, Nottingham Forest News](https://nottinghamforest.football/2026/09/11/nikola-milenkovic-nottingham-forest-profile-2/)
3. [Who is Nikola Milenkovic? The €50m-rated Fiorentina defender scouted by Man Utd, Sporting News](https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/soccer/news/who-is-nikola-milenkovic-the-50m-rated-fiorentina-defender-scouted-by-man-utd/1w8a0ctmql4ed1axmgls5hkokf)
4. [Milenković Nikola, reprezentacija.rs](https://www.reprezentacija.rs/milenkovic-nikola/)
5. [Euro 2024 : découvrez l'équipe de Serbie en une minute, Le Monde](https://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article/2024/06/11/euro-2024-decouvrez-l-equipe-de-serbie-en-une-minute_6238550_3242.html)
6. [Nikola Milenković Stats, FootyStats](https://footystats.org/players/serbia/nikola-milenkovic)
7. [Nikola Milenkovic's journey from Partizan to City Ground, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce786jede11o)
8. [Desde Italia se apunta un duelo Atleti-Juve por Milenkovic, AS](https://as.com/futbol/2018/12/30/primera/1546165134_781756.html)
9. [Nikola Milenkovic tactical analysis, Total Football Analysis](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/nikola-milenkovic-fiorentina-tactical-analysis)
10. [Scout Report: Nikola Milenković, Scouting Between The Lines](https://scoutingbetweenthelines.wordpress.com/2021/06/06/scout-report-nikola-milenkovic/)
11. [Nikola Milenkovic interview: Nuno: 'He is contagious to be around', Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11096/13238944/nikola-milenkovic-interview-nottingham-forest-defenders-impact-explained-nuno-he-is-contagious-to-be-around)
12. [Nikola Milenkovic injury: Forest defender out at Villa Park, Nottingham Forest News](https://nottinghamforest.football/2026/09/12/nikola-milenkovic-jair-cunha-injury-aston-villa/)
13. [Euro 2024 : Serbie-Angleterre, Le Monde](https://www.lemonde.fr/sport/live/2024/06/16/en-direct-euro-2024-serbie-angleterre-suivez-le-match-du-groupe-c_6240799_3242.html)
14. [Player Profiles: Nikola Milenkovic](https://www.player-profiles.co.uk/player-profiles/player-profiles-nikola-milenkovic.php)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › Serbian footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license