Awoniyi becomes Nottingham Forest’s record signing

Newly-promoted Nottingham Forest have signed Nigeria striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, from Union Berlin for a club record fee.

The Nigerian joins Nottingham Forest on a five-year deal for a reported £17m.

The 24-year-old scored 20 goals in 43 games across all competitions last season and becomes Forest’s first signing since gaining promotion back to the English Premier League.

He said, “It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League.

“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.

He 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 Reds out on loan.

Forest manager, Cooper said Awoniyi was a player the club had been monitoring closely over the past few months.

“There’s been a lot of interest of Taiwo from other Premier League clubs, and other clubs across Europe, so we’re delighted he’s chosen Nottingham Forest.

“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,” Cooper said.

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 senior debut for Nigeria in October, the striker has made four appearances and scored his first goal for the Super Eagles against Sudan in January at the Africa Cup of Nations.