Awoniyi to Coventry City: Full list of Nigerians to have played for Sky Blues

Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi is set to continue his career in England after agreeing to a permanent move from Nottingham Forest to Coventry City, Afrik-Foot reports.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Frank Lampard’s side have reached an agreement with Forest for Awoniyi, with the striker already undergoing his medical ahead of the move.

🚨🩵🤍 EXCLUSIVE: Coventry City agree deal to sign Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest, here we go! 🇳🇬

Club to club agreement done, permanent move and also understand medical is now ongoing.

New striker for Frank Lampard. #ccfc pic.twitter.com/iJU9ZdJ6FA

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 15, 2026

The transfer will see the 28-year-old remain in England, where he has spent the last four seasons after joining Forest from Union Berlin in 2022.

Awoniyi’s move also comes against the backdrop of his long-term desire to remain in England. Former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana previously revealed that part of the striker’s career plan was to stay in the country long enough to secure a second passport.

“The day he gets to play in England, I told him he’ll stay there until he gets a second passport, but Nigeria will always be your home,” Olofinjana revealed on the Playzone podcast.

“That’s why Taiwo Awoniyi is not going anywhere. He’s going to stay in England until he gets his passport.”

Under Frank Lampard’s management, Awoniyi joins a Sky Blues side freshly promoted to the Premier League and will be competing alongside compatriot Frank Onyeka, who completed his own permanent move to Coventry about a month ago.

Full list of Nigerians to have played for Coventry City

1. Dele Adebola

The most established Nigerian connection in Coventry history is Dele Adebola. The Lagos-born striker spent five years with the Sky Blues between 2003 and 2008, making 180 appearances and scoring 36 goals.

His finest individual campaign came in 2005-06 when he netted an impressive 12 goals for the Sky Blues, forming productive attacking partnerships with Stern John and Gary McSheffrey. He was the club’s top scorer in 2006-07 before leaving for Bristol City in January 2008.

Adebola was a significant figure during Coventry’s Championship years and remains comfortably ahead of the other Nigerians on the list in terms of appearances.

2. Bright Enobakhare

Bright Enobakhare enjoyed one of the most memorable individual Nigerian spells at Coventry.

He had two separate stints at Coventry City. Enobakhare first joined on loan in January 2019 from Wolverhampton Wanderers, giving the Sky Blues a dynamic attacking option on the right flank as they pushed for promotion from League One.

He returned in 2021 permanently, signing a two-year contract, but made only one appearance before having his contract cancelled.

3. Chuba Akpom

Chuba Akpom’s Coventry stay was brief but came at an important stage of his development.

The former Arsenal youngster joined the Sky Blues on loan in February 2014 and made six League One appearances, starting five of those matches. He did not score during his spell.

His time with the Sky Blues was unique because it was a dual arrangement. Akpom played for Coventry on the weekends but was temporarily recalled by Arsenal during the week to play in the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League.

Akpom was only 18 at the time, making Coventry one of the early stops in a career that would later take him to Greece, England and the Netherlands.

4. Yakubu Aiyegbeni

Yakubu arrived at Coventry in February 2017 as a vastly experienced striker nearing the end of his career at the age of 34.

The former Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Everton forward signed until the end of the season but managed only three appearances before a hamstring injury brought his short stay to an early end. His contract was terminated by mutual consent in April 2017.

5. Frank Onyeka

Frank Onyeka became the latest Nigerian to represent Coventry before Awoniyi.

The Super Eagles midfielder initially joined the club on loan from Brentford in January 2026, with the deal becoming permanent following Coventry’s promotion to the Premier League.

Onyeka brought Premier League and Bundesliga experience to Coventry and quickly established himself as an important midfield presence, helping them with a return to the English top-flight for the first time in 25 years.

6. Taiwo Awoniyi

Awoniyi now becomes the sixth Nigerian to play for Coventry City. Unlike most of the Nigerians who came before him, Awoniyi arrives with substantial Premier League experience and a proven record at the highest level of English football.

His move is also another opportunity after an injury-disrupted period at Nottingham Forest.

For Coventry, the Nigerian striker offers experience, physicality, hunger and a proven ability to operate in the Premier League.

For Awoniyi, the move keeps him in England, precisely where Olofinjana said he always intended to remain.