Taiwo Awoniyi bids Nottingham Forest goodbye – 5 records he broke with the Reds

Taiwo Awoniyi has officially brought his four-year Nottingham Forest journey to an end, leaving the club with a collection of memorable records and historic milestones that underline his importance to the Reds, Afrik-Foot reports.

Forest confirmed today that the Nigerian international had completed a permanent transfer to Coventry City, bringing the curtain down on a spell that began when he arrived from Union Berlin in 2022.

Awoniyi made 103 appearances for Forest, scoring 23 goals and providing five assists, but his influence cannot be measured by those numbers alone.

Here are five records and milestones that helped define his time at the City Ground.

Five records Taiwo Awoniyi set at Nottingham Forest

1. Club-record signing

Awoniyi arrived at Forest as a statement signing following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

Forest paid £17.5 million to Union Berlin, making the Nigerian their most expensive signing at the time.

The move also made him Forest’s first signing after their return to the Premier League, placing significant expectations on his shoulders from the beginning.

He would go on to justify much of that investment with a memorable first season.

2. First Forest player to score in his first three Premier League starts

Awoniyi made an immediate mark in October 2022 when he scored against Liverpool in Forest’s famous 1-0 victory at the City Ground, a perfect career turnaround as he spent years with the Merseysiders but never played for the first team.

That goal made him the first player to score in each of his first three Premier League starts for Forest.

3. First Forest player to score in six consecutive Premier League appearances since 1995

Awoniyi’s spectacular run in August 2023 saw him score in six consecutive Premier League appearances.

The run was from the previous season, May 8, 2023, to August 26, 2023 (bridging two seasons), as he found the back of the net against Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Manchester United, and Chelsea again.

In doing so, he became only the second Forest player to achieve the feat, following Stan Collymore’s six-match run in March and April 1995.

The achievement was even more significant for the Super Eagles striker, as his six-game streak was the longest by a Nigerian player in Premier League history at that point.

4. Forest’s first seven-game Premier League scoring streak

Awoniyi did not stop at six. After scoring against Manchester United in August 2023, he became the first Nottingham Forest player to score in seven consecutive Premier League appearances.

The run also made him only the third African player to reach seven consecutive Premier League scoring appearances at the time, joining Mohamed Salah and Emmanuel Adebayor.

It remains the most spectacular scoring sequence of his Forest career.

5. Six goals in four games to secure Forest’s Premier League survival

Perhaps no contribution carries more emotional weight than Awoniyi’s extraordinary end to his debut season.

The Nigerian scored six times in Forest’s final four Premier League matches, including the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Arsenal that secured the club’s top-flight survival.

His goals came after Forest had spent much of the campaign fighting relegation, making Awoniyi the key figure in their successful escape under Steve Cooper.

One last City Ground goodbye. 👏 pic.twitter.com/YapSFU4rKE

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) August 17, 2026

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis paid tribute to the Nigerian following his departure.

“Taiwo will always have a special place in the history of Nottingham Forest. He has been one of the defining figures in our journey and given our supporters moments of great joy that will never be forgotten,” the Greek owner said on the club’s official website.

“Throughout his time with us, Taiwo has shown great strength, determination and positivity, overcoming great challenges along the way.

“He embraced this Club from the first day, and his passion and character are why he is so loved by everyone connected to Forest.

“We thank Taiwo for everything he has given to this Club. He leaves with our gratitude, our respect and our very best wishes for the future. He will always be part of the Forest family and will always be welcomed home.”

Four years of incredible moments we won’t forget. ✨ pic.twitter.com/CuclPkmGNS

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) August 17, 2026

Awoniyi leaves the City Ground after battling for his life, literally, bailing the club out in two survival battles, and eventually their qualification for the Europa League.

His next chapter will now be written in the white and blue colours of Coventry City, but his name is firmly embedded in the 21st-century top-flight history of Nottingham Forest.