Nottingham Forest sign forward Taiwo Awoniyi in a club-record £17m deal from Union Berlin – with Liverpool receiving £1.7m as a sell-on fee

Nottingham Forest have signed Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi for a club-record fee from Bundesliga side Union Berlin.

The forward has agreed a five-year deal with newly promoted Forest in a deal believed to be worth £17million.

The 24-year-old started his career at Liverpool, before being sent out on a series of loan spells across Europe.

Having spent a year at Union Berlin in the 2020-21 campaign, the move was made permanent ahead of the 2021-22 season.

The Reds negotiated a 10 per cent sell-on clause as part of his move to Berlin, meaning the Merseyside club will be due £1.7m from his transfer to Forest.

Awoniyi scored 20 goals in 43 appearances last season, helping Union to a fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga and earning the club a place in next season’s Europa League.

The forward didn’t make a first-team appearance during his time at Liverpool, and he is looking forward to getting to finally play in the Premier League following his big-money move.

Taiwo Awoniyi: A ‘dream to play in the Premier League’

He said: ‘It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League and having spoken to Steve Cooper about our ambitions and looking at Forest, with its great history, it’s a club that I want to be part of.’

Forest head coach Steve Cooper added: There’s been a lot of interest in Taiwo from other Premier League clubs, and other clubs across Europe, so we’re delighted that he’s chosen Nottingham Forest.

‘Our recruitment and coaching teams have been monitoring his progress closely over the last few months.

‘He’s a player who we really believe in and we look forward to him going on to fulfil his potential and become a top Premier League striker with Nottingham Forest.’