Nigeria forward, Taiwo Awoniyi has joined Nottingham Forest from Bundesliga club Union Berlin on a 5-year deal and becoming their club-record signing. He is also their first signing after gaining a promotion back to the Premier League.
Awoniyi scored 20 goals in 43 games across all competitions last season thereby helping Union Berlin secure 5th place and also qualifying for the Europa League for the first time.
In a statement, Awoniyi says ” I’m very excited to be here at Nottingham Forest,”
“It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League and having spoken to Steve Cooper about our ambitions and looking at Forest, with its great history, it’s a club that I want to be part of.”
Awoniyi having represented Nigeria at the U-17 level signed his professional career at Liverpool, but due to work permits and Loan spells, he wasn’t able to make his debut with Liverpool.
His last loan move was with Union Berlin during the 2020/21 season and made the move permanent last July.
He has also represented Nigeria at U20s and U23s level, Awoniyi won the first of his three caps for Nigeria against the Central African Republic in October 2021 and scored his first goal against Sudan in January at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Forest head coach Steve Cooper said: “There’s been a lot of interest in Taiwo from other Premier League clubs, and other clubs across Europe, so we’re delighted that he’s chosen, Nottingham Forest.
“Our recruitment and coaching teams have been monitoring his progress closely over the last few months. He’s a player who we really believe in and we look forward to him going on to fulfill his potential and become a top Premier League striker with Nottingham Forest.”
“I think it is a statement of intent. Awoniyi has been terrific for Union Berlin in the last couple of seasons and particularly last season.
“He’s their top goalscorer of all time in the top flight. You look at his strength and the variety of goals he scores, and he was the man who made sure they qualified for the Europa League at the end of the season.
“He’s someone who can create his own shot and pick up the pieces. What impressed me about him is his creative strike partner did a lot for him – Max Kruse. He moved on and went back to Wolfsburg in January, and Awoniyi took center stage and is happy to take responsibility for the attack.
“I think he’ll be terrific for Nottingham Forest.”
