Coventry City are set to complete a £17 million move for Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi, with the deal expected to be finalised ahead of the Sky Blues' Premier League opener against Arsenal on Friday.
The transfer marks a significant coup for Coventry as they prepare for their first top-flight campaign in a quarter of a century. Awoniyi, 29, arrives with plenty of Premier League experience after joining Forest from Union Berlin in 2022 for a then club-record £17.2 million fee.
During his time at the City Ground, the Nigeria international scored 23 goals in 103 appearances across all competitions. However, his role diminished significantly last season as he found himself behind Chris Wood and Igor Jesus in Forest's attacking pecking order. He was not included in the squad for the club's Europa League campaign and managed just three starts throughout the season, contributing four goals from 17 appearances.
Awoniyi's 2024-25 campaign was also marred by a serious injury scare. In May 2025, he suffered a ruptured intestine after colliding with a goalpost during a match against Leicester City, an incident serious enough to require him to be placed in an induced coma. His recovery from that setback will now continue at a new club as he looks to rebuild his career in the Premier League with Coventry.
The move for Awoniyi forms part of a busy summer of recruitment for Frank Lampard's Coventry side as they bolster their squad for the step up in competition. The club has already secured the return of midfielder Gus Hamer from Sheffield United, a reunion that will excite supporters given his previous impact at the club. Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth has also signed permanently following a successful loan spell from Brighton & Hove Albion last season.
Coventry have further strengthened their attacking and defensive options, with winger Loum Tchaouna joining from Burnley and defender Aurele Amenda arriving from German side Eintracht Frankfurt. Ghana international Caleb Yirenkyi has also been brought in from Nordsjaelland to add depth to the squad.
The addition of Awoniyi comes at a timely moment for Lampard, given the club's current striking concerns. Haji Wright, another of Coventry's forward options, is currently sidelined through injury, leaving Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ellis Simms as the manager's fit alternatives up front heading into the new campaign. Awoniyi's arrival should provide much-needed firepower and experience as Coventry prepare for the challenge of Premier League football.
The Sky Blues' return to England's top division after 25 years will begin with a daunting assignment against Arsenal, and the club's recruitment drive underlines the ambition to establish themselves as competitive in their first season back among the elite. Whether Awoniyi can rediscover his best form after a difficult and injury-hit year at Forest remains to be seen, but the move represents a fresh start for both player and club as they embark on a new chapter together.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.