Taiwo Awoniyi is a strong, hard-working centre-forward who fought through years of loans to become a Premier League goalscorer with Nottingham Forest. Once loaned out repeatedly during his Liverpool days, the Ilorin-born striker rebuilt his career in Germany with Union Berlin before scoring the goals that helped keep Forest in the top flight.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Taiwo Awoniyi |
| Nationality | Nigeria |
| Date of Birth | 12 August 1997 |
| Latest club | Nottingham Forest |
| League | Premier League (ENG) |
| Position | Forward |
| Market value | €14.00m |
Playing style: A powerful, willing centre-forward
Awoniyi is a physical striker who leads the line with strength, running and a strong work ethic.
- 💪 Strength: Powerful and robust, he holds the ball up and battles defenders.
- 🏃 Running: Tireless in stretching defences and pressing from the front.
- 🎯 Finishing: A reliable penalty-box striker with a good scoring record.
- 📏 Aerial threat: Dangerous from crosses and set pieces.
- 🛡️ Resilience: Rebuilt his career after years of loan moves and injury setbacks.
Career: From endless loans to Premier League goals
Awoniyi’s path to the top was unusually long, taking in numerous loan spells before he established himself in Germany and then England.
The long road at Liverpool
Signed by Liverpool as a teenager, Awoniyi never played for the first team due to work-permit issues and was instead loaned out repeatedly, to clubs across Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. His breakthrough came on loan at Union Berlin, where his goals helped the club into European football.
The move was made permanent, and Awoniyi continued to score in the Bundesliga, finally earning the stable platform his talent deserved after years on the move.
A club-record move to Forest
In 2022 Awoniyi joined newly promoted Nottingham Forest for a club-record fee. He scored crucial goals to help Forest survive in the Premier League, including decisive strikes in his first season, endearing himself to the club’s supporters.
He continued to lead the line for Forest, overcoming a serious injury, and remained an important striker for the club alongside fellow Nigerian Ola Aina at the City Ground.
| Team (Appea.) | Goals |
|---|---|
| KAA Gent (loan) (14) | 8 |
| Mainz (loan) (32) | 5 |
| Union Berlin (66) | 20 |
| Nottingham Forest (80) | 20 |
International career: A Super Eagles forward
Awoniyi earned his place in the Nigeria squad through his club form and became a useful option in attack. He was part of the Super Eagles side that reached the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, adding physical presence to the forward line.
His powerful style offers Nigeria a different option up front, complementing the pace and movement of the country’s other attacking talents.
| Competition (Stage) | MP (Goal) |
|---|---|
| AFCON 2023 (Runners-up) | 4 (0) |
Clubs journey: Germany, Belgium and England
Awoniyi’s career took him through numerous loan clubs before settling in Germany and England, with his Union Berlin and Nottingham Forest years the most productive.
A striker who earned his success the hard way, Awoniyi has become a dependable Premier League goalscorer and a valued member of the Nigeria squad.
| Years | Club |
|---|---|
| 2018–2019 | KAA Gent (loan) |
| 2019–2021 | Union Berlin (loan) |
| 2021–2022 | Union Berlin |
| 2022–Present | Nottingham Forest |