Taiwo Awoniyi could find himself facing an uphill battle for game time at Nottingham Forest as the 2025/26 Premier League season approaches.
The 27 year old striker joined Forest in a then club record transfer deal back in 2022, signing a five year contract. However, his time in England has been hampered by injuries and inconsistent form, limiting his impact on the pitch.
Awoniyi featured for just 400 minutes during the 2024/25 league campaign, as he struggled to maintain fitness.
His season was further derailed after suffering a serious abdominal injury during a match against Leicester City — an incident that led to him being placed in an induced coma.
Fortunately, the Nigerian international has made a full recovery and has rejoined the team for pre season training.
However, competition for the centre forward role has intensified. Nottingham Forest recently completed the signing of Igor Jesus from Botafogo.
The Brazilian rose to prominence after scoring the winning goal in Botafogo’s shock victory over European champions Paris Saint Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup.
With Chris Wood still in the squad and reports linking the club to Brentford star Yoane Wissa, Awoniyi’s path to regular minutes looks increasingly uncertain.
The new campaign may well determine whether Awoniyi still has a future at Forest or if it is time for a fresh start elsewhere.
