Chidozie Awaziem, 28, has inked a three‑year contract with French Ligue 1 side FC Nantes, marking his return to the Canaries after earlier featuring for the club during the 2017–18 season.
The Nigerian centre‑back joins from Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids, where he started all 20 matches this season and recorded one assist in a 3–2 win over San Diego FC on 12 April. Previously, he also spent part of 2024 with FC Cincinnati, notching two assists over seven appearances.
This move reunites Awaziem with a club he’s familiar with he spent a loan spell at Nantes in 2017–18, featuring in 22 league games and scoring once. His journey since then has taken in spells across Europe, including stints in Turkey, Spain, Croatia and Portugal, before heading to the US.
Nantes president expressed delight at securing a defender of Awaziem’s experience ahead of the upcoming season, especially following the departure of key players. The central defe.
Editorial
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view Awaziem’s return to FC Nantes as a masterstroke in strategic squad rebuilding. Retaining a player who already understands the club’s ethos offers both continuity and leadership at the heart of defence. We believe that a three‑year deal demonstrates Nantes’ confidence in Awaziem’s maturity and reliability. His wealth of experience from Europe to MLS — shows adaptability and resilience, qualities indispensable for a team seeking stability.
We observe that central defence demands consistency more than flair, and Awaziem’s playing style aligns precisely with that requirement. After season-long involvement in Colorado, he comes battle-ready to chip in with organisation, aerial presence and forward progression. We expect this transfer to energise the dressing room. A familiar face returning on a long-term basis sends a positive signal that Nantes values players who understand its culture and are committed to long-term success.
We share confidence that Awaziem’s second spell will be impactful. His marriage of past familiarity and recent form offers Nantes more than a stopgap—it gives them a bedrock around which to shape their ambitions. We believe this is a transfer that bears all the hallmarks of solid planning and will look back as a defining addition.
Did You Know?
- Awaziem made his senior debut for Nigeria in June 2017 during a friendly versus Togo in Paris .
- He was part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and also featured in the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations .
- At 1.92 m tall, his aerial dominance and physical presence have frequently earned praise in his defensive role.
- His most productive club spell post-Porto was with Croatian side Hajduk Split, where he scored five goals and helped secure the Croatian Cup in 2023.
- He has been awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger honour for his contributions to Nigerian football.
