Coventry City Complete £9 Million Signing of Nigeria Striker Taiwo Awoniyi From Nottingham Forest
Coventry City have officially completed the signing of Nigeria international striker Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest in a deal reportedly worth around nine million pounds, giving Frank Lampard’s side a proven attacking option ahead of their long awaited return to the Premier League. The move brings an end to Awoniyi’s four year spell at Nottingham Forest and comes just days before Coventry begin their first Premier League campaign in twenty five years, with the Sky Blues set to face reigning champions Arsenal in their opening fixture on Friday.
Awoniyi arrives at Coventry as Lampard’s latest addition to a squad already strengthened through several other signings this transfer window, including Gus Hamer, Carl Rushworth, Loum Tchaouna, Aurele Amenda and Caleb Yirenkyi. Speaking following the completion of his move, Awoniyi expressed genuine excitement about the upcoming season, stating that he could not wait to get started and was particularly looking forward to working alongside his new teammates. He specifically praised Coventry’s performance during their promotion winning campaign from the Championship the previous season, describing the squad’s achievement as incredible and expressing enthusiasm about now being part of that group as they prepare to test themselves in the Premier League.
The move represents a significant chapter closing for Awoniyi, who joined Nottingham Forest from German club Union Berlin back in 2022, becoming the club’s record signing at the time. During his four seasons at the City Ground, the Nigerian international scored 23 goals in 103 appearances across all competitions, with his most memorable individual contribution arriving toward the end of the 2022/23 season, when he scored six goals across Forest’s final four league matches, a run of form that proved instrumental in helping secure the club’s Premier League survival during a particularly challenging period.
However, playing opportunities became considerably more limited for Awoniyi during the most recent campaign, as he started just three of his seventeen Premier League appearances for Forest, managing four goals across that reduced playing time. His diminished role coincided with growing competition for attacking positions at the club, with Awoniyi finding himself behind other forwards in Nottingham Forest’s pecking order and notably left out of the squad for last season’s Europa League campaign, developments that ultimately paved the way for his departure to Coventry ahead of the new season.
Ahead of his exit, Awoniyi received an emotional send-off from Nottingham Forest, with the club’s players and staff giving him a guard of honour during the second half of their final pre-season friendly fixture against French club Brest on Sunday, allowing him the opportunity to formally bid farewell to supporters at the City Ground. Speaking after the match, Forest head coach Oliver Glasner offered warm praise for the departing striker, describing him as one of the friendliest and most well liked individuals within the club, while highlighting his consistent effort and full commitment whether featuring in the starting lineup or contributing from the substitutes’ bench throughout his time at the club.
Awoniyi’s move to Coventry also comes roughly a year after a serious medical scare during the 2024/25 season, when he was placed in an induced coma after rupturing his intestine following a collision with a goalpost during a match against Leicester City, an incident that underscored the physical toll of his career before his eventual recovery and return to competitive action. With his transfer to Coventry now finalised, the powerful centre forward is expected to provide Lampard with an important attacking option as the club prepares to lead the line in their bid to establish themselves in England’s top flight following their remarkable promotion campaign.
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