Taiwo Awoniyi: 3 reasons Coventry City is perfect move for Super Eagles striker

Taiwo Awoniyi is set for a new chapter after Nottingham Forest agreed a deal to sell the Nigeria striker to Coventry City, Afrik-Foot reports.

ESPN reported that Coventry had reached an agreement with Forest for the 29-year-old forward. The move has since advanced to completion, with reports putting the fee at about £17m, one of the club’s most expensive transfers in history. Awoniyi leaves Forest after four years at the City Ground, where he scored 23 goals in 103 appearances.

The transfer comes at an important point in his career. Awoniyi has shown that he can score Premier League goals, but regular starts have been difficult to secure at Forest.

Coventry, often blessed with excellent strikers, offer him a different situation. The club has just returned to the Premier League after a 25-year absence and is building a squad to compete at the highest level.

Here are three reasons the move could be the right one for the Super Eagles striker.

1. Regular football could bring Awoniyi back to his best

The clearest reason for Awoniyi to join Coventry is the chance to play more often. His final two seasons at Forest did not give him the run of games that a striker needs. In the 2025-26 Premier League season, he made 17 appearances but started only three matches. He scored four goals and provided one assist in 493 league minutes.

Those numbers tell an important story. Awoniyi was still able to score when he got opportunities. His four league goals came from only 493 minutes, which is about 5.5 full matches. The problem was not only his ability to find the net. He had to compete with other forwards for playing time. Chris Wood was a major attacking option at Forest, while Dan Ndoye and other forwards also competed for places.

Awoniyi’s Forest career had started in a very different way. After joining from Union Berlin in 2022, he scored 10 Premier League goals in his first season, helping the then newly-promoted side avoid relegation. He followed that with six league goals in 2023-24, despite missing part of the campaign through injury. Overall, he registered 21 Premier League goals for Forest, the fifth-best in the club’s all-time record.

A move to Coventry gives him the chance to build another run of games. That matters because a striker needs rhythm. Regular starts can improve his movement, confidence and understanding with his team-mates.

At 29, Awoniyi does not need to prove that he can play at Premier League level. He needs a team that gives him enough minutes to do it consistently.

2. Coventry can give him the fresh start he needs

Awoniyi’s time at Forest has had several high points, but it has also included injuries and long periods without a regular starting role.

He joined Forest in June 2022 after a strong spell at Union Berlin. His first season was productive. He scored against Liverpool and Arsenal and helped Forest fight their way clear of relegation danger.

His Forest story then became harder. An ankle injury suffered against AFC Bournemouth in February 2024 was one of the setbacks that affected his campaign. Forest later recorded his return to action after a 147-day absence.

The striker also had to deal with competition for his position as Forest’s squad grew. By May 2026, he had passed 100 appearances for the club. Forest marked the milestone with a feature in which Awoniyi discussed his time at the City Ground and some of the difficulties he had faced.

Now he can start again. Coventry is a Premier League newcomer with a clear need to adapt quickly to a much higher level of competition. Frank Lampard led Coventry to the Championship title in his first full season in charge. The club secured promotion in April with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers, then won the title with a 5-1 victory over Portsmouth four days later.

Awoniyi would therefore arrive at a club that is also starting a new Premier League chapter. That can make the move valuable for both sides. Coventry need experienced players who understand the demands of the top flight. Awoniyi needs a team where he can rebuild his confidence and establish himself as an important player.

3. Coventry need more attacking power

Coventry’s need for Awoniyi is just as important as Awoniyi’s need for Coventry. The Sky Blues were outstanding in attack during their Championship-winning campaign. They scored 97 goals in 46 league matches, the highest total in the division. Only three teams had ever scored at least 97 goals in one Championship season.

Haji Wright was central to that attack. The United States striker scored 18 league goals and produced two assists. He also scored a hat-trick in Coventry’s 3-1 win over Middlesbrough on 16 February, a result that helped the club regain control of the promotion race.

Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ellis Simms also contributed important goals, while midfielders such as Victor Torp and Jack Rudoni added to the team’s threat.

But the Premier League is a different test. Coventry will face stronger defences, faster attacks and less space around the penalty area. Their opening league match makes that clear. They begin the 2026-27 campaign against defending champions Arsenal on 21 August.

That is where Awoniyi’s style can help. He is a powerful centre-forward who can compete with defenders, attack crosses and hold the ball up. His ability to run behind a defence also gives Coventry another way to attack.

Lampard has normally used a 4-2-3-1 system at Coventry, with the team combining organisation with an aggressive approach in the final third. Awoniyi can fit that system because he does not need the ball at his feet all the time to affect a match.

He can stretch a defence with his runs. He can bring midfielders into play. He can attack balls into the box. He can also give Coventry a physical option when they need to play more directly.

If Awoniyi can stay fit and win a regular place, Coventry could give him exactly what he has lacked at Forest, a leading role and a clear chance to play. It could be the start of his Premier League career again.