Mercato: Taiwo Awoniyi joins Coventry City

Coventry City has reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest to sign Taiwo Awoniyi. The Nigerian is set to take on a new challenge in the Premier League under Frank Lampard’s leadership. The striker, whose permanent transfer is being finalized, becomes another ambitious signing for the newly promoted English side.

The news was broken by Fabrizio Romano, who reports that Coventry City and Nottingham Forest have agreed on a permanent transfer for Taiwo Awoniyi. At 29, the Nigerian forward was set to undergo his medical before sealing his move to the Sky Blues. Frank Lampard personally pushed for the striker’s arrival, counting on his Premier League experience to bolster the squad.

This signing is part of Coventry’s ambitious recruitment drive. Crowned Championship winners last season, the club is back in the English top flight after a 25-year absence. The squad has already been strengthened with several new faces, including another Nigerian international, Frank Onyeka, who joined on a permanent deal after helping secure promotion with 14 Championship appearances. Awoniyi will thus reunite with a compatriot under Lampard’s management.

103 matches and 23 goals with Nottingham Forest

Awoniyi leaves Nottingham Forest after four seasons, having made a significant impact on the club’s recent history. Across 103 appearances in all competitions, the Nigerian netted 23 goals and provided 5 assists.

His standout campaign was undoubtedly the 2022-2023 season, following Forest’s return to the Premier League. Awoniyi scored 11 goals and delivered one assist in 30 matches, playing a direct role in keeping the club in the top tier.

That season, he notably found the net six times in his final four league games, underlining his importance in Forest’s fight for Premier League survival.

A final season disrupted by injuries

However, recent years have been more challenging for the striker. Injuries have regularly hampered his progress and limited his playing time. In 2025-2026, he featured in just 18 games for Forest, starting only three, but still managed four goals and an assist across all competitions.

His Premier League record remains impressive, though. Awoniyi brings valuable experience of English football and knows the physical demands of a competition where he has consistently showcased his power, pace, and ability to play in behind defences.

A journey from Liverpool to the Premier League

Before making his mark at Nottingham Forest, Awoniyi’s career path was particularly eventful. Developed in Nigeria, he joined Liverpool in 2015 and then embarked on several loan spells across Europe, including stints at Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen, Gent, and Mouscron.

It was ultimately in Germany, at Union Berlin, where he established himself at the highest level. He scored 23 goals in 63 appearances before returning to England with Nottingham Forest in 2022.

His arrival at Forest marked a turning point in his career. He quickly established himself as one of the key figures in the club’s survival and helped cement the Reds’ place in the top flight.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

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Coventry

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