Awaziem seals permanent switch to Konyaspor on two-year deal

Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem has completed a permanent transfer to Konyaspor, with the Turkish Super Lig club signing the centre-back on a two-year contract from French side Nantes.

The 29-year-old Nigeria international joins the Konya-based team ahead of the 2026/27 campaign and is set to wear the No. 15 shirt. His arrival comes as Konyaspor look to build on a solid domestic season in which they finished ninth in the league and reached the Turkish Cup final.

Awaziem’s move represents a return to a league he knows well, having previously played in Turkey during separate loan spells with Caykur Rizespor and Alanyaspor.

Return to familiar ground in Turkey

Awaziem first featured in the Turkish Super Lig in the second half of the 2018/19 season, when he joined Caykur Rizespor on loan from FC Porto. During that stint, he made 16 league appearances for the Black Sea club.

He later went back to Turkey for the 2021/22 campaign, this time on loan at Alanyaspor. There he played 18 league matches and scored once, further enhancing his reputation as a reliable option in central defence.

The Nigerian’s experience in the division is expected to help smooth his transition into the Konyaspor back line as the club aims to improve on its mid-table league finish and go one step further in the domestic cup, having lost last season’s final to Trabzonspor.

Well-travelled defender

Awaziem began his professional career with Portuguese giants FC Porto in 2015, working his way into the first-team picture before embarking on a series of loan moves across Europe.

While contracted to Porto, he spent time at Spanish side Leganes in La Liga, at Portuguese club Boavista in the Primeira Liga, and at Croatian outfit Hajduk Split in the Prva HNL. Those spells provided him with regular game time and exposure to different styles of football.

He eventually left Porto on a permanent basis in 2024, moving to Major League Soccer with FC Cincinnati. After a year there, he switched to fellow MLS side Colorado Rapids.

Following his brief stay in the United States, Awaziem returned to Europe to sign for Nantes in France’s Ligue 1. It is from the French club that he has now completed his switch back to Turkey with Konyaspor.

Key figure for Nigeria

On the international stage, Awaziem has been a consistent presence around the Nigeria national team for several years.

He was included in the Super Eagles squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, although he did not feature in any of the matches as Nigeria were eliminated in the group stage.

The defender has also been selected for four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, being named in Nigeria’s squads for the 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025 editions of the competition. His versatility across the back line has made him a regular option for national team coaches during that period.

Konyaspor will hope that the experience Awaziem has gathered in Portugal, Spain, Croatia, France, the United States and on the international stage can strengthen their defensive options as they prepare for the upcoming Super Lig season and another push in the Turkish Cup.