Nigerian Striker Completes £17m Switch
Coventry City have officially confirmed the signing of Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest, closing out a deal worth around £17 million. The Nigerian international becomes the latest major arrival in Frank Lampard’s ambitious summer rebuild, ahead of the club’s first Premier League season in 25 years.
Speaking after completing the move, Awoniyi expressed genuine excitement about linking up with his new teammates. “I’m really looking forward to working with my new teammates,” he said. “I have seen how amazing they have been last season, coming up from the Championship, they were incredible and now I am just excited to join them and get started for the new season.”
Notably, Awoniyi leaves Forest after four years and more than 100 appearances, scoring 23 goals across that spell. He arrived in 2022 as the club’s then-record signing following a £17.2 million move from Union Berlin, quickly establishing himself as a genuine fan favourite. His decisive winners against both Liverpool and Arsenal remain fondly remembered moments from that early period.
However, injuries increasingly disrupted his progress in recent seasons, culminating in a genuinely frightening episode in May 2025, when he was placed in an induced coma after rupturing his intestine during a collision with a goalpost. Despite that setback, he returned to action and continued contributing crucial moments, including a brace against Chelsea last May.
Fresh Opportunity After Squad Squeeze
Playing time had grown scarce at the City Ground, with Awoniyi falling behind Chris Wood and Igor Jesus in Forest’s attacking pecking order. He started just three Premier League matches last season, missing selection for the Europa League squad entirely under Oliver Glasner.
Glasner himself offered warm words following Forest’s pre-season farewell fixture against Brest, describing Awoniyi as one of the friendliest and most positive characters he’d encountered. Forest teammates even gave him a guard of honour before his expected departure.
For Coventry, this signing continues a genuinely bold summer of investment. The club has already broken its transfer record three times, most recently for Nordsjaelland midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi, alongside earlier deals for goalkeeper Carl Rushworth and defender Aurele Amenda. Awoniyi is expected to be available, according to ESPN, for Coventry’s Premier League opener against Arsenal on Friday.
Readers following Coventry’s ambitious return to the top flight can find continued coverage on KCPredict throughout the new season.