Trabzonspor Reject €30m Palace Bid For Nwaiwu

Trabzonspor have rejected a Crystal Palace offer worth up to 30 million euros, around 47 billion naira, for Super Eagles defender Chibuike Nwaiwu, according to reports from Turkey, reaffirming their determination to hold onto the 23 year old amid growing interest in his services.

Palace’s push for defensive reinforcements has become more urgent after a summer of departures at the back. The club lost French defender Maxence Lacroix to fellow Premier League side Chelsea and saw Marc Guehi join Manchester City earlier in the year, stripping out two of their most trusted centre back options in a short space of time. The situation has been compounded by the exit of head coach Oliver Glasner, who left when his contract expired to take over at Nottingham Forest.

Palace aren’t the only Premier League side in the race. Fulham have already had multiple offers turned down by Trabzonspor and are understood to have agreed personal terms with Nwaiwu, continuing to push for an agreement with the Turkish club as the summer window enters its final month. Fans following Nwaiwu’s transfer saga can check Bet9ja’s current promo code as the deadline approaches.

What makes the interest so striking is how quickly Nwaiwu has climbed. He began his senior career at Heartland FC in Owerri in 2021 before moving to Enyimba the following year, where he helped the Aba-based club win the 2022/23 NPFL title. A switch to Austrian side Wolfsberger AC in September 2024 followed, and he helped the club win their first ever domestic trophy, the 2024/25 Austrian Cup, before Trabzonspor signed him for around 5.5 million euros in January 2026.

His rise has continued at pace since arriving in Turkey. Nwaiwu quickly became a mainstay in Trabzonspor’s defence, played a key role in their Turkish Cup triumph over Konyaspor, and has attracted reported interest from clubs including PSG, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille and Lazio along the way. New Bet9ja users following Nigerian defenders in Europe can check how to get the Bet9ja promotion code before the transfer window closes.

His progress hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Super Eagles either. Nwaiwu earned a late call up to Eric Chelle’s squad after Calvin Bassey withdrew ahead of friendlies against Iran and Jordan, giving him a first taste of senior international recognition to go with his earlier appearances for Nigeria’s U23 side during 2024 Olympic qualifying.

Trabzonspor’s current valuation of 30 to 35 million euros represents a huge jump from the fee they paid Wolfsberger just seven months ago, a reflection of how quickly his stock has risen through consistent performances at centre-back. Punters tracking the Nwaiwu transfer saga can check Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code as more offers are expected before the window shuts.

With Nwaiwu tied to a contract running until 2030, Trabzonspor are under no real pressure to sell, and Palace’s rejected bid suggests the Black Sea club intend to hold firm on their valuation unless a significantly improved offer arrives. If neither Palace nor Fulham can meet their demands, Nwaiwu looks set to remain in Turkey for at least another season, continuing to build his case as one of Nigeria’s most promising defensive prospects.