10 important facts Coventry City must know about Taiwo Awoniyi

Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi has officially joined Coventry City from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth €10.50 million, Afrik-foot reports.

He spent four years at Nottingham Forest, and left quite a good impression there, and that what earned him the beautiful farewell he got on Monday at the CIty Ground,

The Nigerian striker has had to fight hard for everything he has achieved. Awoniyi has gone from sewing his own football boots in Ilorin to winning a FIFA U-17 World Cup, signing for Liverpool, enduring seven loan spells, becoming a Bundesliga goalscorer and eventually establishing himself in the Premier League.

Now, at 29, Awoniyi has joined Coventry City, giving coach Frank Lampard a forward with plenty of experience and a fascinating background.

But what exactly should Coventry supporters know about their new Number 14?

Here are 10 important facts about Awoniyi — from the way he plays to his family, upbringing and some of the records he has collected along the way.

1. Taiwo Awoniyi Is Much More Than A Traditional Target Man

At 1.83m, Awoniyi has the physical profile of a conventional No.9, but reducing his game to simply being a big striker would miss some of his biggest strengths.

He combines his strength with pace, movement and the ability to attack space behind defenders. He is also comfortable taking responsibility for an attack rather than waiting for teammates to create everything for him.

That was one of the reasons he became such an important figure at Union Berlin. European football expert Andy Brassell told Sky Sports that Awoniyi’s strength and variety of finishing stood out, while also highlighting his ability to create his own shots and “pick up the pieces.”

For Coventry, that makes him a potentially useful weapon against Premier League teams who dominate possession. He can occupy centre-backs, run in behind them and give his team an outlet when they need to escape pressure.

2. A Two-Man Attack Could Bring Out The Best In Him At Coventry City

One of the more interesting things about Awoniyi is that he has previously thrived when playing alongside another forward. That could be important for Lampard.

Awoniyi does not necessarily need to operate as an isolated striker with his back permanently to goal. Giving him a partner can create space for him to make runs, attack the channels and arrive in the box without having to perform every attacking function himself.

His time at Union Berlin showed how effective he can become when he is given greater responsibility within an attacking structure. Also, Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 victory against Chelsea last season brought that quality to the fore.

3. He Has a Knack For Scoring When The Pressure is Highest

If Coventry supporters want evidence that Awoniyi can deliver in a relegation fight, they do not have to look far.

In the final weeks of Nottingham Forest’s 2022/23 Premier League survival campaign, Awoniyi scored six goals in four matches.

That run included two goals against Southampton, another two against Chelsea and the winner against Arsenal that secured Forest’s Premier League survival. It was arguably the defining spell of his Forest career.

The lesson for Coventry is obvious: Awoniyi has already experienced what it is like to play Premier League football with every point carrying enormous significance.

That could become extremely valuable if Coventry find themselves fighting for survival in the final months of the campaign.

4. He Once Scored In Six Consecutive Premier League Matches

Awoniyi has another impressive Premier League record that deserves more attention.

In August 2023, he became the first Nottingham Forest player since Stan Collymore in 1995 to score in six consecutive Premier League matches.

That run underlined just how devastating Awoniyi can be when confidence, fitness and service come together.

It is also a useful reminder that his Premier League scoring ability is not based solely on one late-season purple patch. At his best, Awoniyi can put together a sustained run of goals.

5. He Is a Right-Footed Striker Who Does Most Of His Damage Inside The Box

Awoniyi’s numbers paint an interesting picture of his finishing. FotMob’s data from the 2025/26 Premier League season shows that 14 of his 15 recorded shots came from inside the penalty area, with three headers among those attempts. He also scored four goals from 15 shots during the campaign.

That tells Coventry something important about how he should be used. Awoniyi is not primarily a striker who wants to stand 25 yards from goal and dictate play. His biggest value comes from getting into dangerous areas and finishing moves.

Give him service into the box and opportunities to attack crosses, cutbacks and through balls, and Coventry have a forward who knows where the goal is.

6. His Football Journey Began With Him Repairing His Own Boots

Long before Premier League stadiums, Awoniyi was a youngster in Ilorin trying to keep his football dream alive. As a youngster at the Kwara Football Academy he would use tools to repair his boots. This just shows the modest circumstances from which he emerged.

His journey changed in 2010 when he travelled to London for a football tournament and won both the Most Valuable Player award and Golden Boot.

That performance caught the attention of former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana, who invited him to join the Imperial Soccer Academy. It was the beginning of a remarkable journey.

7. He Spent Six Years As a Liverpool Player Without Making a Single Appearance

Few parts of Awoniyi’s career are more unusual than his Liverpool story.

Liverpool signed him in 2015 for around €1.10 million, but work-permit restrictions meant he could not play for the club. Instead, the striker was sent out on loan again and again.

FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen, Mouscron, Gent, Mainz and Union Berlin all featured in his seven loan spells. He eventually left Liverpool permanently in 2021 without making a competitive appearance for the club.

Yet that failed Liverpool chapter did not end his dream of playing in England. Instead, Awoniyi used those years abroad to develop into the striker who eventually returned to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.

8. He Was a World Cup Winner Before He Became a Super Eagle

Awoniyi’s international success started long before his senior Nigeria debut. He was part of Nigeria’s 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning squad, scoring four goals during the tournament.

He was also part of the Nigeria team that won the 2015 African U-20 Championship, where he was named in the Team of the Tournament.

Interestingly, he was not initially the undisputed star of the U-17 side. At first, he had been playing second fiddle to Isaac Success before Success suffered an injury, creating an opportunity for Awoniyi to establish himself. He took that opportunity — and the rest is history.

9. Family Has Always Been Part Of His Story

There is a personal side to Awoniyi that Coventry supporters may not know. The striker has a twin sister named Kehinde, while he married his wife, Taiye Jesudun, in 2018.

His wedding took place over two days, with the traditional and engagement ceremony held in Kabba before the white wedding in Ilorin. Awoniyi is also a Christian. His connection to home extends beyond his family.

Awoniyi owns Unicorn FC, a football academy in Ilorin, and has used his platform to give back to the community that helped launch his own career. Soccernet was live at a tournament he hosted in Ilorin “Never Stop Dreaming” in Ilorin, aimed at inspiring young footballers. He even invited scouts to see if they could pick any player who impressed.

He is a person who always gives back. The boy who once dreamed of becoming a professional footballer in Ilorin is now helping other youngsters chase the same dream.

10. His Career Has Been Defined By Resilience

Perhaps the most important thing Coventry supporters should know about Awoniyi is that setbacks have followed him throughout his career — and he has repeatedly found a way through them.

He suffered relegation with FSV Frankfurt and NEC, spent years unable to obtain the work permit needed to play for Liverpool, endured difficult loan spells and suffered a severe concussion while at Mainz.

In May 2025, Awoniyi suffered a serious abdominal injury during Nottingham Forest’s match against Leicester City. He required urgent surgery and was placed in an induced coma while recovering in intensive care. He eventually recovered and returned to football.

He later scored against Brentford in January 2026 — his first Premier League goal in more than a year. That history explains why the word “resilience” appears so often when Awoniyi’s career is discussed.

He has had to fight for almost everything. And Coventry City fans will be hoping that he brings that resilience this season.