Taiwo Michael Awoniyi is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plies his trade in the English Premier League with Nottingham Forest and represents the Nigeria national team.
Awoniyi’s footballing journey saw him rise through the doldrums of grassroots football in Nigeria into the shining lights of European football where his powerful and aggressive style of play has earned him a reputation as a reliable goalscorer throughout his career.
In this piece, Footynaija.com brings you all you need to know about the Nigerian striker.
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Biography
Awoniyi was born on August 12, 1997 in Ilorin, Kwara state. Awoniyi’s journey into professional football back in 2010 when he was voted MVP at a Coca-Cola football competition in London, which led to his discovery by former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana and his subsequent move to the Imperial Soccer Academy.
He joined Liverpool in 2015 for around £400,000 but was unable to secure a work permit, resulting in multiple loan spells at clubs like FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Mouscron, Gent, Mainz, and Union Berlin. Despite showing promise, he never played a competitive match for Liverpool.
In 2021, he permanently joined Union Berlin for £6.5 million, impressing with consistent performances. A year later, Awoniyi returned to England, joining Nottingham Forest for a club-record £17 million.
He quickly became a key player, scoring crucial goals, including winners against West Ham, Liverpool, and Arsenal, to help Forest avoid relegation. In August 2023, he became the first Forest player since 1995 to score in six consecutive Premier League games.
On the international scene, Awoniyi represented various Nigerian youth teams, winning the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, scoring four goals. He also featured in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup after helping Nigeria win the 2015 African U-20 Championship.
Awoniyi eventually made his senior debut in a 2022 World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic in 2021. He also played in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring once in a group-stage win over Sudan.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s Stats
Despite failing to make a single senior appearance for Liverpool, Awoniyi sojourned on a number of loan spells where he displayed his talent as a reliable goalscorer. Below is a breakdown of his numbers per club.
FSV Frankfurt (on loan) – 14 appearances (1G, 1A)
NEC Nijmegen (on loan) – 22 appearances (3G, 0A)
Royal Excel Mouscron (on loan) – 47 appearnaces (21G, 5A)
K.AA Gent (on loan) – 22 appearances (3G, 0A)
Mainz 05 (on loan) – 12 appearances (1G, 0A)
Union Berlin – 65 appearances (25G, 4A)
Nottingham Forest – 81 appearances (19G, 2A)
Nigeria – 10 appearances (2G, 0A)
Taiwo Awoniyi’s Salary
Awoniyi, who signed a five-year contract with Nottingham Forest, earns approximately £50,000 per week according to Capology. His weekly wages sum up to £200,000 monthly.
This amounts to an annual salary of £2.6 million, and by the end of his deal in July 2027, he is set to earn a total of £13 million.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s Net Worth and Market Value
According to various reports, Awoniyi’s net worth is estimated at $1.5 million, reflecting his earnings from contracts with top European teams as well as brand endorsements.
His current market value stands at €18 million, according to TransferMarkt, dropping from miles off his peak value of €30 million.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s Family
The bullish Nigerian striker was born to Mr Solomon and Mrs Motunrayo Awoniyi, who hail from Ilorin, Kwara State and belong to the Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria.
He was brought up alongside five siblings, including two older brothers Adebisi and Victor, two older sisters Adeola and Oluwafunke, and a twin sister, Kehinde.
Awoniyi’s Wife and Children
Awoniyi is married to his childhood sweetheart Taiye Jesudun. The pair got married in June 2018 and they have two children. They welcomed their first child, a son named Emmanuel, on October 16, 2020. The pair then welcomed their second child on August 12, 2023, a day which coincidentally happened to be Awoniyi’s birthday.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s FC 25 Ratings
Awoniyi has an overall rating of 75 in EA SPORTS FC™ 25. He excels as a target man, combining impressive strength (88) and jumping (88) with solid finishing (78) and shot power (82).
His sprint speed (79) allows him to make impactful runs behind defenses. While his passing and dribbling are modest, his physical presence makes him a formidable striker in the box.
