Taiwo Awoniyi leaves Union Berlin for England

Created: 06/25/2022, 10:28 am

Union's Taiwo Awoniyi gestures on the pitch.

© Sven Hoppe/dpa/archive image

Striker Taiwo Awoniyi is moving from Bundesliga club Union Berlin to Premier League promoted Nottingham Forest.

“He is a great loss for our team in sporting and human terms, which we now have to absorb.

But we wish Taiwo all the best on his way and thank him for his performance in the jersey of 1. FC Union Berlin,” said Oliver Ruhnert, Union Managing Director Professional Football, according to a statement on Saturday about the departure of the 24-year-old Nigerian.

Berlin – The former European Cup winner from Nottingham also confirmed the transfer on Twitter.

"Union will always have a place in my heart and I am very happy and proud to have been part of this club," Awoniyi was quoted as saying in the Köpenicker announcement.

As usual, Union did not provide any information about the transfer fee.

The media recently speculated about an exit clause of around 20 million euros, in which Liverpool FC, as the striker's previous club, is said to be involved.

The transfer had already become apparent in the past few days.

Awoniyi has played for the Berliners since 2020.

First on loan from Liverpool before Union signed him on a permanent basis last summer.

With 20 goals, he is the club's record goalscorer in the Bundesliga.

With his goals, he played a key role in reaching the Europa League last season.

Awoniyi had always emphasized that the Premier League was his dream destination - and not just for sporting reasons.

“The key difference for me is that if I lived in England it would be easier for my wife and child, if only because of the language.

In addition, my sister and a brother live on the island,” he told the “kicker” in February.

After Liverpool got him in 2015, he could not prevail there and was loaned out again and again.

Now he is starting his second attempt in the Premier League.

dpa