Taiwo Awoniyi’s future at Nottingham Forest looks increasingly uncertain after the club signed a new striker ahead of the 2025/26 season, NaijNaira can report.
The Nigerian forward could drop further down the pecking order following the arrival of Brazilian attacker Igor Jesus from Botafogo.
Awoniyi has battled injuries since joining from Union Berlin in 2022, a situation that cost him consistent starts under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Last season, the 26-year-old made only 32 appearances across all competitions, mostly from the bench.
New Zealand international Chris Wood stepped in with a strong campaign, delivering 20 goals and three assists in 36 Premier League matches.
“Chris was exceptional for us last season,” Nuno said, adding that “competition for places will be intense.”
Awoniyi’s path to more minutes just got tougher after Nottingham Forest secured Igor Jesus in a €11.6 million deal.
Jesus scored 17 goals and assisted six more in 59 games for Botafogo and can play both centrally and wide.
The 24-year-old’s versatility makes him an immediate threat to Awoniyi’s position in the lineup.
If Awoniyi fails to outshine Jesus and Wood, he could find himself as Forest’s third-choice striker.
Despite having two years left on his deal and a €16 million valuation on Transfermarkt, no club has come forward with interest yet.
If his fitness issues persist, Forest may consider selling to recoup funds while he still holds market value.
Article updated 3 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
