Time For Taiwo To Bring Out His Best

Taiwo Awoniyi is back in England. This time he is an established Nigerian international and has staked a claim for his place in the big leagues, having had a good ride in the Bundesliga in Germany.

For a transfer fee of 20.5m Euros the Nigerian who was initially at Liverpool is back as the Nottingham Forest record signing.

Taiwo was signed by Liverpool for £400,000 back in 2015 after impressing with Nigeria at the U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

That move started a run of seven loan moves from Liverpool, his first station being FSV Frankfurt and finally making a permanent exit last summer, to join Union Berlin.

For the boy who had to wait seven years for his Premier League debut after signing for a Premier League club, the endurance, hard work and determination can only be admired.

He has repaid this by scoring his first Premier League goal for Nottingham Forest, in the 1-0 win over West Ham United.

His move to the Premier League is a sign not only of the changing times, but a long road to victory.

Playing in a league so keen on protecting homegrown players means he had to work harder for this chance.

A case in point, the same players who took part in the U20 World Cup as him have gone on to establish themselves while Taiwo moved around on loan.

It is his time and his big move is more than a mere motivator for young Nigerian players looking to make it in the big leagues.

His key importance for Nottingham Forest, captured in the amount paid for his signature, shows he will have an important role for the London side. 

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The arrival of Taiwo comes just months after Senegalese star Sadio Mane’s exit from the Premier League after years of success at Liverpool and Southampton.

While there’s Mohamed Salah still in the league, there remains a key argument for the case of Mane being the best of Africa to have graced the league in recent years.

With that not in doubt, Taiwo has a lot of ground to cover in his quest to be the best, and joining an ambitious club, without massive targets gives him a lot of room for growth.

For his boss, Steve Cooper, Taiwo commands a lot of trust and for the man who has finally given him his Premier League debut, Taiwo will give it all, no doubt.

After scoring 15 times in 31 Bundesliga games last season, it would be very unwise to rule out the chances of Taiwo succeeding in the Premier League.

Even though there’s a crowd of players coming in at Nottingham Forest, Taiwo will definitely find his space.

He will find it easier to settle as well, having been joined by his countryman, Emmanuel Dennis.

Dennis, who spent last season at Watford, will have another bite at the Premier League following the relegation of his former team, and his experience in the top league will for sure be key for Taiwo’s adaptation to the league as well as growth.