A frustrating, injury-hit season for Taiwo Awoniyi at Nottingham Forest has opened the door to transfer interest from Turkish Super Lig side Caykur Rizespor.
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Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been linked with a move to Turkish Super Lig club Caykur Rizespor, Complete Sports reports.
The Black Sea outfit are looking to strengthen their attack ahead of the new season and have identified Awoniyi as a potential target, after the 29 year old struggled for regular playing time at Nottingham Forest last season, largely due to persistent injury problems.
A Difficult Campaign At The City Ground
Awoniyi was not registered by Forest for the UEFA Europa League last season and was only included in the club’s Premier League squad after compatriot Ola Aina sustained an injury that ruled him out for much of the first half of the campaign. He managed four goals and one assist in 17 league appearances for the Tricky Trees in 2025/26, a modest return by his own standards. With Igor Jesus and Chris Wood ahead of him in the pecking order, Awoniyi could be open to a move away from the City Ground in search of regular playing time, though he has featured for Forest throughout pre-season and it remains to be seen whether he has done enough to convince new manager Oliver Gleaner to include him in his plans.
Notably, Awoniyi addressed his Forest future directly earlier this year, insisting the club remains home for him and his family and that he was not considering an exit at that point in his career. Whether this fresh Rizespor interest changes that calculation is likely to become clearer as the transfer window progresses.
From Union Berlin To The Premier League
Awoniyi joined Nottingham Forest from Bundesliga side Union Berlin in 2022 for a then club-record fee in the region of £17.5 million, following a productive spell in Germany where he scored 25 goals in 65 appearances. He reached the milestone of 100 appearances for Forest earlier this year and has been a key figure in the club’s Premier League survival efforts since their promotion, including a run of goals in 2023 that helped preserve their top-flight status.
📌 Did You Know?
- Awoniyi was part of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets squad that won the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, a tournament that also launched several other Super Eagles careers.
- Before establishing himself in Germany, Awoniyi spent six years away from Liverpool on loan across Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands due to UK work permit restrictions, without ever making a competitive appearance for the Merseyside club.
- His move to Union Berlin from Liverpool became permanent after an initial loan, and he went on to become one of the Bundesliga side’s most important attacking players.
- Caykur Rizespor, based in the Black Sea city of Rize, have a long history in Turkish top-flight football and are known for producing and developing forwards.
- Awoniyi credits former Super Eagles midfielder Yakubu Olofinjana with helping launch his career, having invited him to join the Imperial Soccer Academy in Sango Ota as a youngster.
- He reached 100 appearances for Nottingham Forest earlier this year, a milestone the club marked by presenting him with a commemorative shirt during training.
- Awoniyi’s first senior Nigeria goal came at the Africa Cup of Nations against Sudan, not long after he won his first cap against the Central African Republic in 2021.
