Major League Soccer (MLS) club FC Cincinnati have officially announced the signing of Nigeria international defender Chidozie Awaziem from Portuguese top-flight side Boavista.
During his time at Boavista, Awaziem made 59 appearances over parts of three seasons.
He has also been on a number of loan spells: French Ligue 1 side FC Nantes in the 2017/18 season, Turkish Süper Lig club Çaykur Rizespor in 2019, and Spanish La Liga team CD Leganés later that same year.
The 27-year-old defender has signed with the Orange and Blue through 2025, with options to extend his contract through 2026 and 2027.
Chidozie Awaziem's first remarks as an FC Cincinnati player
Speaking to the club's official website, Awaziem said, “I've been following up Major League Soccer for quite a number of years now,” adding that his conversation with the club was exceptional.
“When I spoke to Cincinnati, it was really an amazing time and it was a wonderful conversation on what I could be with this club.
“I had heard a lot about Cincy, and I watched the games and how they've been performing in Major League Soccer and which is very, very good. And I see that support so I'm here right now to give my own support and help to the team.”
Awaziem highlighed his relationship with fellow Nigerian and FC Cincinnati midfielder, Obinna Nwobodo, as a deciding factor in the transfer.
“I've had lots of conversations with Obinna Nwobodo,” he said. “He's my friend, we’ve played together and against each other in Turkey. I’ve known him for quite a while and he's an amazing guy.
“He told me about the club and the culture and the atmosphere. When we had spoken in the past, he had told me a lot of things, he's always been asking me to come (to Cincinnati) and I told him ‘yeah, someday we're going be together’ and here we are. So, I hope that it's going to be an amazing road in front of us together.”
