Taiwo Awoniyi is a Nigerian professional footballer who has built an impressive career through persistence, hard work and years of experience across different European leagues. Best known as a powerful centre-forward, Awoniyi currently plays for Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League and has also represented the Nigeria national team.
His journey to the Premier League was far from straightforward. Although he joined Liverpool as a promising young player in 2015, he did not make a competitive first-team appearance for the club. Instead, he spent several seasons on loan in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium before finally establishing himself in the Bundesliga with Union Berlin.
This article covers Taiwo Awoniyi’s biography, age, birthplace, wife, family background, football career, achievements, salary and estimated net worth.
Taiwo Awoniyi Profile
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Taiwo Michael Awoniyi |
| Date of birth | August 12, 1997 |
| Age | 29 years old |
| Place of birth | Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Profession | Professional footballer |
| Position | Centre-forward/striker |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Current club | Nottingham Forest |
| Shirt number | 9 |
| Height | About 1.83 metres |
| National team | Nigeria |
| Wife | Taiye Jesudun |
| Contract reported to expire | June 2027 |
Premier League and player databases list Awoniyi as a Nigerian forward born on August 12, 1997, while Transfermarkt lists his current Nottingham Forest contract as running until June 30, 2027.
Who Is Taiwo Awoniyi?
Taiwo Awoniyi is a Nigerian football striker who rose from youth football in Nigeria to become a Premier League player. His playing style is built around strength, movement, physical presence and his ability to compete with defenders.
Awoniyi first attracted attention as a teenager. His performances in youth football eventually led him to the Imperial Soccer Academy, where his potential became more widely recognised. One of the people who played an important role in his early development was former Nigerian international Seyi Olofinjana.
Awoniyi’s breakthrough on the international youth stage came with Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets. He was part of the Nigerian team that won the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. He scored four goals during the tournament.
Two years later, he also played for Nigeria’s Under-20 side and helped the team win the 2015 African U-20 Championship. These performances helped establish him as one of Nigeria’s promising young attacking players.
How Old Is Taiwo Awoniyi?
Taiwo Awoniyi was born on August 12, 1997, in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
As of September 2026, he is 29 years old. His height is around 1.83 metres, and he primarily plays as a centre-forward.
His development shows how a young footballer can take several years to reach the highest level. Rather than moving directly from youth football into the Premier League, Awoniyi had to spend years playing in different countries and adapting to different styles of football.
That experience eventually helped him become a more complete striker.
Taiwo Awoniyi Early Life and Family
Awoniyi was born in Ilorin, Nigeria, and grew up with a strong interest in football. His early years were important in shaping the player he would later become.
A notable part of his family story is that he has a younger twin sister named Kehinde. Awoniyi has also spoken about the importance of the people who supported him while he was growing up.
His journey was not simply the result of having access to elite football facilities. BBC Sport has reported that coaches and mentors played an important role in helping him attend training and develop his footballing ability.
Awoniyi has also maintained a reputation for being private about his personal life. As a result, detailed information about his wider family, parents and relatives is not as extensively documented in reliable public sources as information about his football career.
Who Is Taiwo Awoniyi’s Wife?
Taiwo Awoniyi is married to Taiye Jesudun.
The couple’s marriage took place in June 2018. Reports about their wedding state that they had their traditional wedding in Kabba on June 15, followed by a white wedding in Ilorin the following day.
Awoniyi has generally kept his family life away from the constant attention that comes with being a professional footballer. This means that there is less verified public information about his wife and family compared with his professional career.
For readers searching for “Taiwo Awoniyi wife,” the key confirmed information is that his wife is Taiye Jesudun and that the couple married in 2018.
Taiwo Awoniyi Football Career
Awoniyi’s professional career is unusual because he spent several years developing outside England before eventually playing in the Premier League.
Youth Career in Nigeria
Awoniyi’s football journey became more serious after he joined the Imperial Soccer Academy. His performances in youth competitions helped him gain attention, and his success with Nigeria’s youth national teams increased his reputation.
His biggest early achievement came in 2013 when Nigeria won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Awoniyi scored four goals during the tournament.
His performances earned him opportunities with Nigeria’s Under-20 and Under-23 teams. He was also part of the Nigerian side that won the African U-20 Championship in 2015.
Liverpool Career
In 2015, Awoniyi joined Liverpool as a highly rated young striker.
However, he faced a major obstacle: obtaining permission to play in England. Because of the work-permit rules at the time, Liverpool sent him on loan to clubs in other European countries.
This meant that, despite being a Liverpool player for several years, he never made a competitive first-team appearance for the club.
His loan journey included FSV Frankfurt in Germany, NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands, Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium, KAA Gent, Mainz in Germany and Union Berlin.
These moves gave Awoniyi valuable experience and exposed him to different tactical systems and football cultures.
Union Berlin
Union Berlin became one of the most important stages of Awoniyi’s career.
After initially spending the 2020–21 season at the German club on loan, he joined Union Berlin permanently in 2021.
During the 2021–22 Bundesliga campaign, Awoniyi scored 15 league goals. His performances attracted significant attention from clubs in England and elsewhere in Europe.
This was the season that demonstrated that the striker had developed from a promising youngster into an experienced senior forward.
Nottingham Forest
In 2022, Awoniyi joined Nottingham Forest in a major transfer that brought him to the Premier League.
The move was particularly significant because playing in England had been a long-term ambition for him. BBC Sport reported that his work-permit problems had previously prevented him from playing in the country despite his Liverpool contract.
Awoniyi made an immediate impact during his early period with Forest. One of the most memorable moments of his first Premier League season came when he scored against Arsenal to help Forest secure their Premier League survival.
That goal was particularly meaningful because Awoniyi had grown up supporting Arsenal.
Nottingham Forest confirmed in May 2026 that Awoniyi had passed 100 appearances for the club since joining from Union Berlin in 2022.
Taiwo Awoniyi Playing Style
Awoniyi is known for being a physically strong striker who can occupy defenders and compete effectively in the penalty area.
His height, strength and pace make him useful when attacking crosses and through balls. He can also hold up the ball and bring teammates into attacking moves.
Another important part of his game is his willingness to run behind defensive lines. When he receives the right service, his physical qualities can make him difficult for defenders to handle.
His career also shows that his game has developed over time. The many loan spells he experienced early in his professional career exposed him to different leagues and tactical approaches.
Taiwo Awoniyi Nigeria Career
Awoniyi represented Nigeria at several youth levels before eventually making his senior international debut.
He was part of the Nigerian youth teams that achieved major success, including the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and the 2015 African Under-20 Championship.
His senior Nigeria debut came in October 2021 during a World Cup qualifying match against the Central African Republic.
He has since remained part of the wider Super Eagles setup. Player databases currently list him with 10 senior international appearances and two goals, although national-team statistics can change as new matches are played.
Taiwo Awoniyi Achievements
Some of the major achievements in Taiwo Awoniyi’s football career include:
- Winning the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with Nigeria in 2013.
- Winning the African Under-20 Championship with Nigeria in 2015.
- Being named in the African U-20 Championship Team of the Tournament in 2015.
- Scoring 15 Bundesliga goals for Union Berlin during the 2021–22 season.
- Helping Nottingham Forest remain in the Premier League during the 2022–23 campaign.
- Reaching more than 100 appearances for Nottingham Forest.
His success is especially notable because his route to the Premier League took considerably longer than that of many players of his generation.
Taiwo Awoniyi Salary
Taiwo Awoniyi’s exact salary is not officially published by Nottingham Forest. However, football finance website Capology currently estimates his gross fixed salary at £50,000 per week, equivalent to approximately £2.6 million per year, excluding bonuses.
Capology lists his Nottingham Forest contract as beginning in July 2022 and expiring in June 2027. It also makes clear that its salary figures are estimates rather than official club disclosures.
Therefore, it is better to describe £50,000 per week as a reported or estimated salary, rather than presenting it as an officially confirmed figure.
Footballers can also earn additional money through performance bonuses, sponsorships, commercial agreements and other income streams. These figures are usually private and should not be confused with basic wages.
Taiwo Awoniyi Net Worth
There is no publicly verified official figure for Taiwo Awoniyi’s personal net worth.
Several websites publish estimates, but these numbers can vary significantly because a footballer’s private assets, investments, taxes, bonuses, sponsorship income and spending are not normally available to the public.
For that reason, claims about a specific net worth should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed financial facts.
One useful way to understand Awoniyi’s financial position is to consider his professional earnings. His reported Nottingham Forest salary alone represents a substantial annual gross income, while his career has also included contracts in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Capology estimates his career gross earnings from its available data at more than £13 million, although this should not be interpreted as his current net worth.
In simple terms, Taiwo Awoniyi is a financially successful professional footballer, but his exact net worth is not publicly verified.
Taiwo Awoniyi Current Club
As of September 2026, Taiwo Awoniyi is listed as a Nottingham Forest player.
The Premier League lists him as a forward for Forest, while Transfermarkt lists his contract as running until June 2027.
His time at Nottingham Forest has included both strong performances and periods affected by fitness issues. Like many professional footballers, maintaining fitness and consistency is an important part of his continuing career.
What Makes Taiwo Awoniyi’s Story Special?
One of the most interesting things about Awoniyi’s career is how long it took him to reach the Premier League.
He joined Liverpool as a teenager but had to spend years away from England because of work-permit restrictions. Rather than allowing that setback to end his progress, he continued developing through loan spells.
His time in Germany proved particularly important. At Union Berlin, he finally found the consistency and playing time needed to demonstrate his ability at a high level.
That experience eventually resulted in his Premier League opportunity with Nottingham Forest.
His story is therefore about more than goals and transfers. It is also a story about patience, adaptation and persistence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Taiwo Awoniyi
How old is Taiwo Awoniyi?
Taiwo Awoniyi was born on August 12, 1997. He is 29 years old as of September 2026.
Where is Taiwo Awoniyi from?
He was born in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Who is Taiwo Awoniyi’s wife?
Taiwo Awoniyi is married to Taiye Jesudun. The couple married in 2018.
Which club does Taiwo Awoniyi play for?
He plays for Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League.
What position does Taiwo Awoniyi play?
He primarily plays as a centre-forward or striker.
How much does Taiwo Awoniyi earn?
His salary is not officially disclosed by Nottingham Forest. Capology currently estimates his gross fixed salary at about £50,000 per week, or £2.6 million per year, before bonuses.
What is Taiwo Awoniyi’s net worth?
There is no officially verified public figure for his net worth. Online estimates vary, so specific amounts should be treated cautiously.
Did Taiwo Awoniyi play for Liverpool?
Yes. Awoniyi joined Liverpool in 2015 but did not make a competitive first-team appearance for the club. He spent several seasons on loan at clubs in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium before eventually moving permanently to Union Berlin.
How many goals has Awoniyi scored for Nigeria?
Current player databases list him with two senior international goals, although his statistics can change as he plays additional matches.