Super Eagles: Two reasons Trabzonspor turned down Fulham’s €28m bid for Chibuike Nwaiwu

Trabzonspor have rejected a second offer from Fulham for Super Eagles defender Chibuike Nwaiwu, turning down the Premier League club’s improved €28 million proposal, Afrik Foot reports.

Their initial €20 million approach was swiftly turned away earlier this summer, and while the Cottagers returned with a significantly improved offer of €28 million in total, Trabzonspor’s response has been equally firm.

According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, per Tribal Football, the Black Sea Storm will only entertain bids that meet or exceed their stated valuation, and anything below that threshold will not be accepted.

Nwaiwu joined Trabzonspor from Austrian side Wolfsberger in January for €5.5 million and made an immediate and emphatic impact, making 21 appearances across all competitions, contributing three goals and one assist, helping the club finish third in the Super Lig, win the Turkish Cup and qualify for the Conference League.

Two reasons Trabzonspor rejected Fulham’s €28m Nwaiwu bid

The first reason is the valuation gap. The Turkish club paid €5.5 million for Nwaiwu six months ago. Fulham’s €28 million offer, while more than five times that original investment, still falls short of the minimum €30 million Trabzonspor set as the floor for any serious negotiation.

Fatih Tekke’s side are not haggling; they are waiting for a club to meet their number, and they have the luxury of patience, considering interest in the Super Eagles defender is only going to continue to grow.

The second reason is rooted in Trabzonspor’s ambition for the 2026-27 season, which would be seriously undermined by selling Nwaiwu to a club offering less than his market value.

Selling him below their valuation and entering the Conference League with a weakened backline, scrambling to find a replacement in the final weeks of the transfer window, would be poor planning. Trabzonspor would receive less money than they believe Nwaiwu is worth, lose a player who has become integral to their tactical identity, and face the opening of European competition without the defensive certainty he provides.

The second rejection of Fulham’s offer is Trabzonspor telling the market that they’re in no rush to sell, unless the right offer comes in.

Additionally, Trabzonspor’s President, Ertuğrul Doğan, revealed the club want to strengthen key areas of their squad, while also admitting they have offers on the table for seven senior team players.

Any sale that wouldn’t be able to cover for two incoming players will most likely be shunned.