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Nottingham Forest have broken the club’s transfer record to make Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi their biggest signing since gaining promotion to play in the Premier League next season.
Nottingham Forest. Premier League newcomers paid Union Berlin £17m for the Nigeria international who signed a five-year deal at the City Ground after passing his medical.
Nottingham Forest beat competition from several clubs in England and Germany to sign Awoniyi who scored 20 goals in 43 games across all competitions in Bundesliga last season.
Awoniyi scored 20 goals in 43 games across all competitions last season and becomes Forest’s first signing since gaining promotion back to the Premier League.
“It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League,” said Awoniyi.
“Having spoken to [Forest boss] Steve Cooper about our ambitions and looking at Forest, with its great history, it’s a club that I want to be part of.”
After a season-long loan, Awoniyi joined Union Berlin on a permanent deal in July 2021 from Liverpool, where he started his career.
Awoniyi did not make any first-team appearances for Liverpool after signing for the club in 2015 and spent the majority of his six years with the Merseyside side out on loan.
Forest manager, Steve Cooper, believes Awoniyi fits into his team for their first Premier League campaign in 23 years.
“There’s been a lot of interest in Taiwo from other Premier League clubs, and other clubs across Europe, so we’re delighted he’s chosen Nottingham Forest,” Cooper said.
“He’s a player who we really believe in and we look forward to him going on to fulfil his potential and become a top Premier League striker with Nottingham Forest.”
Scoring 15 goals in 31 league games, Awoniyi was the Bundesliga’s sixth-highest scorer last season and helped Union Berlin to a fifth-place finish which guarantees the club Europa League football for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
Since making his Super Eagles debut in October, Awoniyi has made four appearances and scored his first goal for his nation against Sudan in January at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Awoniyi had a six-year deal with Liverpool, which was spent out on loan at various clubs, before making the permanent move to Germany last summer. Liverpool will receive 10% of the fee paid by Forest.