Nottingham Forest has completed the signing of Super Eagles of Nigeria forward Taiwo Awoniyi from Union Berlin for a club-record fee. The 24-year-old former Liverpool star joins newly-promoted Forest on a five-year deal for a reported £17m.
Awoniyi scored 20 goals in 43 games across all competitions last season and becomes Forest’s first signing since gaining promotion back to the Premier League.
Speaking on his new deal, he said: “It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League.” He also said: “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.”
Taiwo Awoniyi 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 Merseyside side out on loan. Nottingham Forest manager Cooper said Awoniyi was a player the club had been monitoring closely over the past few months.
he manager also said: “There’s been a lot of interest in 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 fulfill his potential and become a top Premier League striker with Nottingham Forest.”
After scoring 15 goals in 31 league games, Taiwo Awoniyi was 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.
Forest is expected to sign goalkeeper Dean Henderson, 25, on loan from Manchester United this summer and is also in talks to sign central defender Moussa Niakhate, 26, from Mainz.