Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi has said goodbye to his teammates and supporters following their 2-0 pre-season win against Brest at the City Ground, as he is set for a permanent transfer to Coventry City.
Forest manager Olivier Glasner confirmed that the player is leaving the club
The Nigerian international has been associated with a move away from Forest after facing challenges in consistently demonstrating his best performance since his arrival at the Premier League club from Union Berlin.
Despite a challenging season, Awoniyi displayed flashes of his talent towards the end of the last season, netting three goals and providing two assists in his final six matches, which contributed to Forest maintaining their top-flight status.
However, his position in the hierarchy behind Chris Wood and Igor Jesus has raised additional concerns regarding his future and the likelihood of obtaining regular playing time.
This situation has reportedly attracted the interest of newly promoted Coventry, with Awoniyi believed to be nearing the completion of a transfer to the CBS Arena after passing his medical examination.
Coventry is understood to have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest for a deal valued at approximately £17m (around N31 billion in Nigerian currency) for the Nigerian striker.
Awoniyi is said to have received a guard of honour from his Forest teammates before bidding farewell to the supporters after his substitution against Brest.
Confirming this development, Forest manager, Olivier Glasner stated to Forest TV: “The striker received a guard of honour from the Forest squad as he exited the field at the City Ground.
“There was a very positive atmosphere, supportive, and a strong relationship between the stand and the team. This is the most crucial aspect, and I believe Taiwo received the guard of honour because it appears he will be departing.
“You can observe the strong bond between the players and the fans. There was a lot of applause and gratitude for Taiwo’s contributions over the past couple of years.”
As his potential transfer to Coventry draws nearer, Awoniyi will be eager to secure regular playing time and regain his best form as he prepares for a new challenge at the CBS Arena.