Nottingham Forest have broken the club’s transfer record to turn striker Taiwo Awoniyi into their first signing since promotion to the Premier League.
The top-tier newcomers have paid Union Berlin £ 17 million for the Nigeria international who has signed a five-year contract at City Ground after undergoing a medical on Thursday. Forest overcame tough competition from several clubs in England and Germany for the striker who scored 15 goals in the Bundesliga last season.
Forest coach Steve Cooper recently met with the former Liverpool striker in Athens to talk about how he saw Awoniyi fit into his team for his first Premier League campaign in 23 years.
“I’m very excited to be here in Nottingham Forest,” Awoniyi said. “It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League and having talked to Steve Cooper about our ambitions and watching Forest, with its great history, is a club I want to be a part of.”
Cooper added: “There has been a lot of interest in Taiwo from other Premier League clubs and other clubs in Europe, so we are delighted that he has chosen Nottingham Forest. Our recruitment and training teams have been closely monitoring his progress over the past few months. He is a player we truly believe in and look forward to expanding his potential and becoming a Premier League striker with Nottingham Forest. “
Awoniyi had a six-year spell with Liverpool, who passed on loan to various clubs, before making the permanent move to Germany last summer. The Premier League runner-up will receive 10% of the fee paid by Forest due to a sale clause.
Awoniyi is expected to be the first of many signings this summer, as Forest owners support the club’s hiring team to put together a team capable of staying in the Premier League.
Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson will arrive on loan for the season. The club turned Henderson into their No. 1 goalkeeper for the summer after Brice Samba turned down a new contract and is now on the verge of sealing his departure from Forest, with Lens in talks to sign him.
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Forest is in talks with German club Mainz over his club captain Moussa Niakhaté after his initial candidacy for the center-back was rejected. In Forest there is optimism that an agreement will still be made for the former French under-21 international. They maintain an interest in Wolves winger Morgan Gibbs-White, who impressed on loan to Sheffield United last season, but are expected to be rivaled by numerous Premier League clubs for his signing. Forest are also looking to recruit a right-back, with Neco Williams of Liverpool and Issa Kaboré of Manchester City the main current contenders.