Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi has signed a new three-year contract extension with Nottingham Forest, committing his future to the club until 2028.
Awoniyi described the new deal as a source of renewed motivation, expressing gratitude to the club and fans for their unwavering support during his recent recovery from a life-threatening abdominal injury. “This new contract is a fresh motivation for me,” he said. “I want to give back to the club and the fans who have been incredibly supportive during my recovery.”
Club officials hailed Awoniyi’s resilience, noting that his contract extension reflects the striker’s importance to the team’s long-term plans as Forest prepare for their first European campaign in nearly 30 years. The club secured a UEFA Conference League place after a strong end to the 2024/25 season under manager Nuno Espírito Santo.
Awoniyi joined Forest from Union Berlin in June 2022 for a then-club-record fee of £17 million. He made an immediate impact during the 2022/23 season, scoring key goals that helped the club retain its Premier League status in their first year back in the top flight.
Although the 26-year-old struggled in the 2024/25 campaign—managing just one league goal in 893 minutes of action—he has scored 17 goals in 72 Premier League appearances since his arrival. Injuries and form issues saw him fall down the pecking order, prompting speculation about his future.
That uncertainty was put to rest with the contract renewal, which comes on the heels of Forest’s announcement in June that both Awoniyi and fellow Nigerian Ola Aina would remain at the club next season, despite several summer departures.
Aina, who joined on a free transfer from Torino in July 2023, impressed with two goals, one assist, and a key role in 11 clean sheets across 35 league matches. The club exercised a one-year extension clause in his contract in May.
Awoniyi’s extension is seen as a vote of confidence in his potential return to form. Forest remain hopeful that, fully fit, he will once again be a key figure in their domestic and European campaigns.
Reflecting on his medical ordeal after emergency surgery in May following a match against Leicester City, Awoniyi said he remains determined to repay the faith the club has shown in him.
