By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Taiwo Awoniyi’s place at Nottingham Forest is under threat following the club’s acquisition of Brazilian forward Igor Jesus, raising fresh doubts over the Nigerian striker’s role ahead of the new Premier League season.
Awoniyi, 26, struggled for consistent game time under head coach Nuno Espírito Santo last season, often playing second fiddle to Chris Wood.
The arrival of Igor Jesus from Coritiba is expected to further limit his opportunities in Forest’s attacking lineup.
Despite signing a contract extension earlier this year that keeps him at the City Ground until 2028, the former Union Berlin striker has endured recurring injury setbacks and inconsistent form—factors that may influence his standing in the squad.
No official bids have been lodged for Awoniyi so far, but sources close to the club suggest Forest would be open to letting him go if a suitable offer is received.
With the transfer window now open and competition for places intensifying, Awoniyi and his representatives are expected to assess their options in the coming weeks.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
