By Balogun Kamilu Lekan
Biography
Taiwo Micheal Awoniyi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Premier League club Nottingham Forest and the Nigeria national team.
Taiwo and his twin sister, Kehinde, were born to Solomon Awoniyi, a retired police officer, on August 12th, 1997, in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Awoniyi is one of Nigeria’s most lethal strikers in the EP at the moment.
Education
Taiwo had his secondary education at Government Day Secondary School, Ilorin,, before proceeding to join Imperial Soccer Academy in Ogun State, from where he graduated in 2012.
Career
Club Career
Awoniyi started his professional club football career with Liverpool in 2015 for a fee of about
£400,000 but was loaned out to German team FSV Frankfurt
Awoniyi debuted for Frankfurt as a late substitute against Hertha Berlin in the German Cup. His spell with the german side was not glorious, as Frankfurt were relegated, and Awoniyi was sent back to Liverpool.
In 2016, the Dutch team NEC signed Awoniyi on loan. His debut for NEC was against PSV Eindhoven. Similarly, Awoniyi’s spell with NEC ended in a relegation like Frankfurt’s.
Awoniyi then joined Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium on a season-long loan in 2017 before rejoining Liverpool in 2018.
Back in Liverpool, Awoniyi signed a long-term deal with the English side but was loaned out again to the Belgian side, Gent.
In 2019, his loan with Gent was cut short, forcing him to join Mouscron on another loan.
His UK permit was not granted, making him ineligible to join Liverpool again. He initiated another loan to Mainz.
Later in 2020, Awoniyi joined Bundesliga side Union Berlin for a year on loan. At Union Berlin, luck smiled on the starlet, earning him a £6.5 million permanent deal with the German side.
In 2022, newly promoted Premier League side Nottingham Forest signed him on a five-year deal. His transfer to the English side sets the club’s record fee of £17 million.
The striker’s time at Nottingham Forest has been a remarkable streak as he has been instrumental in the club’s success in recent times.
International career
Awoniyi was part of the Nigeria U-17 squad that won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Awoniyi was instrumental to the team’s success, scoring four goals in the competition.
He was also part of the U-20 team at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In 2015, Awoniyi also represented the Nigerian team that won the African U-20 Championship in Senegal.
At his debut for the Nigeria U-23 side, Awoniyi bagged a brace against Zambia, helping the team to qualify for the 2015 All-African Games.
The forward was also part of the Nigerian 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
His success with the young Nigerian side earned him a call-up to the senior team by former head coach Gernot Rohr.
Marriage
Awoniyi is married to Taiwo Jesudun and is blessed with a son, Emmanuel.
Net worth
Awoniyi joined Nottingham Forest for a club-record fee of £18.45m, and the new contract is worth €7.5 Million, making him one of the highest-paid Nigerian footballers in 2022
Awoniyi’s annual salary with Nottingham Forest is estimated to be €1,536,000. His net worth is valued at an estimated $1.5 million.
Achievements
Taiwo and his teammates were honoured with the Member of the Order of the Niger award in 2013 after their success at the FIFA U-17 World Cup
Honours
Nigeria U17
- FIFA U-17 World Cup: 2013
Nigeria U20
- African U-20 Championship: 2015
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. NewsWireNGR or its editorial team cannot independently verify all details.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for Live and Entertaining Updates.
Always visit NewsWireNGR for the latest Naija news and updated Naija breaking news.
NewsWireNGRLatest News in Nigeria
Send Us A Press Statement/News Tips on 9ja Happenings: [email protected].
Advertise With Us: [email protected]
