Taiwo Awoniyi


Taiwo Micheal Awoniyi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for English Premier League club Liverpool. Taiwo's style of play has been compared to that of Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria's all-time highest goalscorer.

Club career

Early career

In 2010, Taiwo was voted the Most Valuable Player at a Coca-Cola football competition in London. His performance at the competition was spotted by Seyi Olofinjana who made him join Imperial Soccer Academy.

Liverpool

On 31 August 2015, Taiwo signed for English club Liverpool for a fee of around £400,000 but was immediately loaned out to FSV Frankfurt.

Loan to FSV Frankfurt

He made his debut for the club as a late substitute in a German Cup match against Hertha Berlin. After being named as a substitute for six league matches, he made his debut on 19 February 2016, playing 89 minutes against FC St. Pauli.
With the team of the 2. Bundesliga, Awoniyi suffered relegation and was not kept at the end of the season.

Loan to NEC Nijmegen

On 26 August 2016, NEC confirmed that he had joined them on a season-long loan and was expected to join the squad the following week after the formalities of his work permit were completed. On 10 September, he made his Eredivisie debut in a 40 defeat of NEC to PSV Eindhoven, being replaced in the 72nd minute by Michael Heinloth.
With Nijmegen, the Nigerian suffered his second consecutive relegation, being relegated from Eredivisie in 2017.

Loan to Royal Excel Mouscron

In July 2017 Awoniyi left Nijmegen and joined Belgian club Royal Excel Mouscron on a season-long loan, and on his debut on 12 August started the match against KSC Lokeren and scored within 23 minutes.

Loan to KAA Gent

On 17 July 2018 he signed a new long-term deal with Liverpool and on 23 July sealed a season-long loan to another Belgian club, KAA Gent. On 11 January 2019, it was announced that his loan to Gent was cut short, and Awoniyi was loaned to Mouscron again. In April 2019 he said that his struggle to get a UK work permit could end his Liverpool career.

Loan to Mainz 05

On 6 August 2019 Liverpool confirmed the player had joined Mainz 05 on a season long loan.

International career

Taiwo represented Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and went on to win the tournament, scoring four goals during the competition. He also represented Nigeria at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand after winning the 2015 African U-20 Championship in Senegal.
On 12 April 2015, he scored a brace on his debut for the Nigeria U-23 team in a match against Zambia, as his team went on to qualify for the 2015 All African Games.
He was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Career statistics

Honours

International
In recognition for his performance at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup competition, Taiwo along with his teammates were bestowed with the Member of the Order of the Niger award. It was also reported in the media that there were plans by the Kwara State House of Assembly to name a major street after him.

Personal life

He married his partner Taiwo Jesudun in an engagement and traditional wedding in Kabba on Friday 15 June 2018, followed by a white wedding on 16 June in Ilorin. Presently, Awoniyi is hospitalized after a severe head injury during the 1-0 Mainz loss to Augsburg during the Bundesliga match that occurred on Sunday.