Chibuike Nwaiwu: How Trabzonspor’s transfer stance complicates Fulham pursuit

Trabzonspor’s determination to keep Chibuike Nwaiwu has handed Fulham a significant setback in their pursuit of the Super Eagles defender, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Premier League club have long admired the 23-year-old centre-back and were understood to have reached personal terms over a proposed four-year contract.

Fulham also improved their offer to around €28 million, comprising €25 million guaranteed with a further €3 million in add-ons.

However, the Turkish side rejected the proposal, insisting Nwaiwu is not for sale as they prepare for a campaign in which they intend to challenge on multiple fronts.

The latest reports from Turkey suggest Trabzonspor have now made their position even firmer.

According to Taka Gazete, the Black Sea club have decided against allowing any key player to leave during the season as they pursue domestic success, with Nwaiwu among those considered untouchable despite continued interest from clubs across Europe.

Salah’s arrival changed Trabzonspor’s outlook on Chibuike Nwaiwu

That stance has been strengthened by one of the biggest transfers in Turkish football this summer.

Mohamed Salah’s arrival on a free transfer has transformed expectations around Trabzonspor. Beyond the obvious commercial boost expected from shirt sales, sponsorships and global attention, the Egyptian superstar has elevated the club’s ambitions on the pitch.

Rather than rebuilding, Trabzonspor now view themselves as Süper Lig title contenders while also targeting a deep UEFA Europa League run.

Selling one of their most important defenders at this stage would directly undermine those objectives.

Club president Ertuğrul Doğan had already hinted earlier this summer that Trabzonspor were under no pressure to part with Nwaiwu despite interest from England.

Fulham running out of options

For Fulham, the situation has become complicated. Manager Álvaro Arbeloa identified Nwaiwu as one of his priority defensive targets following Issa Diop’s sale to Ipswich Town, with the Nigerian viewed as a player capable of growing into a long-term Premier League defender.

Yet Trabzonspor’s refusal to negotiate below their asking price of around €35m, coupled with their renewed determination to keep the squad together, leaves Fulham facing a difficult decision.

The London club can either return with an offer closer to Trabzonspor’s demands or move on to alternative targets before the transfer window closes. Neither option is particularly attractive.

Increasing their bid substantially risks overpaying for a player with limited experience at Europe’s highest level, while abandoning the deal could allow rival clubs to step in.

Premier League rivals remain interested

Fulham are not the only club monitoring the former Enyimba International defender.

Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace have also been linked with the Super Eagles defender in recent weeks, although neither club has matched Fulham’s level of interest.

Trabzonspor’s latest stance effectively sends the same message to every interested club: unless an exceptional offer arrives, Nwaiwu will remain in Turkey. For the defender himself, another season in the Süper Lig may not necessarily be a setback.

Playing regularly alongside high-profile names such as Mohamed Salah and Paul Onuachu in a side competing for major honours could further accelerate his development while strengthening his case for a regular place in Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles squad.

Whether Fulham decide to test Trabzonspor’s resolve again remains to be seen. For now, though, the Turkish club have made their intentions unmistakably clear.