Taiwo Awoniyi has officially completed his move to Coventry City, ending months of transfer speculation that trailed him through the closing weeks of Nottingham Forest’s pre-season. The Super Eagles forward put pen to paper on a permanent deal worth a fixed [£17 million]
The move had been dragging across multiple transfer windows without resolution, however the two clubs finally struck an agreement over the weekend. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano confirmed the breakthrough on social media, revealing that a club-to-club agreement had been finalised and that Awoniyi’s medical was already underway before the move was rubber-stamped, according to report.
Consequently, Awoniyi leaves Forest after four years at the City Ground, a spell that began when he joined from Union Berlin in 2022. Meanwhile, his proximity advantage played a role in the decision, as Coventry and Nottingham sit only 56 miles apart, giving him flexibility over whether to fully relocate his household.
Frank Lampard sanctioned the signing to add proven Premier League experience to a Coventry squad that dominated the Championship last season and is now preparing for its top-flight return. As a result, Awoniyi arrives wearing the number 9 shirt and is expected to lead the line for the newly promoted Sky Blues, who open their campaign away at Arsenal.
Furthermore, the striker had been surplus to requirements at Forest for some time, with injuries and competition for places limiting his opportunities in recent seasons. Despite that, his physical presence and goalscoring instincts made him a difficult opponent for Premier League defenders during his more productive spells at the club.
Coventry have moved briskly in the transfer market this summer, also bringing in Gustavo Hamer, Carl Rushworth, Loum Tchaouna, Caleb Yirenkyi and Aurele Amenda ahead of the new season, according to Conventry Telegraph.
Before his departure, Nottingham Forest players gave Awoniyi a guard of honour ahead of the club’s final pre-season fixture against Stade de Brestois, a gesture that reflected the regard he was held in despite his inconsistent playing time.
Awoniyi’s move adds another marquee name to the growing list of Super Eagles stars changing clubs this summer, alongside Kelechi Iheanacho’s switch to Bursaspor. His continued presence in the Premier League also matters for Nigeria’s forward options heading into the next round of Super Eagles engagements, as he remains one of the more experienced attacking options available to the national team setup. Meanwhile, his transfer further underlines how English football continues to be the preferred destination for established Nigerian internationals plying their trade abroad.
Awoniyi is now expected to be registered in time for Coventry’s Premier League opener against Arsenal, with Lampard likely to assess how quickly the striker can adapt to a demanding top-flight schedule. However, questions remain over his fitness given his injury history at Forest, and how he balances minutes at club level with international duty for the Super Eagles will be worth monitoring in the coming months.
