Coventry City of England’s new signing, Taiwo Awoniyi is eyeing a dream debut this Friday away to holders Arsenal at the start of the new season, as he hopes to hit the ground running at his new base, Sports247 reports.
Awoniyi has quickly settled down after he was granted a heroic send-off by players, technical crew, backroom staff and management of Nottingham Forest, from where he moved to his new base in a summer transfer deal worth £9m.
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Fellow Super Eagles star, Ola Aina was among the lot who sent the 29-year-old Awoniyi off in style, as he moved over to join another compatriot, Frank Onyeka, at Coventry, with eyes on a debut this Friday in the English Premier League’s opener away to Arsenal.
On his last official day as a player at Forest, Awoniyi was tossed in the air and given a guard of honour by the squad before the second half of their final pre-season friendly against Brest FC of France, with sweet speeches also rolling at The City Ground, where he spent the past four seasons.
The club’s new coach, Oliver Glasner said he already saw great things about Awoniyi within their short time together and retorted: “He was probably one of the loveliest guys I’ve met … always friendly, always smiling. Everybody in the club likes him, and I could see everybody in the stand likes him.
“He always gives 100% for the team. He always gives 100% for the bench, and that’s why he deserves such a farewell, such a guard of honour. That’s why we decided we would give it to him and I wish him all the best at his next club, just not when they play us.”
The club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis took over from there and warmly stated: “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.”
Sports247 recalls that Awoniyi became Forest’s record signing in 2022, when he joined them from Union Berlin of Germany for £17.2m; following which he got 23 goals in 103 games and, although he started just three games last season, he scored four times in 17 appearances across all competitions.
