Done Deal
AW YES
Nottingham Forest smash transfer record as they sign striker Taiwo Awoniyi in £17m deal from Union Berlin
NOTTINGHAM FOREST'S Nigerian new boy Taiwo Awoniyi says he wants to write a new chapter in the club's history - after being impressed by the double European Cup winners' glorious past.
Steve Cooper spent £17.2million and smashed Forest's transfer record to land the 24-year-old Union Berlin striker on a five-year-deal.
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And Awoniyi, who scored 20 goals in 43 appearances for the Bundesliga side last season, says he can't wait to prove himself in the Prem after failing to make a league appearance for Liverpool in his six years with the Anfield club.
Awoniyi said: “I’m very excited to be here at Nottingham Forest.
“It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League and having spoken to Steve Cooper about our ambitions and looking at Forest, with its great history, it’s a club that I want to be part of.”
Awoniyi's 15 goals in 31 Bundesliga matches helped Union Berlin finish fifth to seal their first qualification for the Uefa Europa League since 2001/2002.
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Forest's Head Coach Steve Cooper, who was an Academy coach at Liverpool, revealed he had to fight off plenty of competition to land the young Nigerian international.
He said: “There’s been a lot of interest in Taiwo from Premier League clubs, and other clubs across Europe, so we’re delighted that he’s chosen Nottingham Forest.
“Our recruitment and coaching teams have been monitoring his progress closely over the last few months.
"He’s a player who we really believe in and we look forward to him going on to fulfil his potential and become a top Premier League striker with Nottingham Forest.”
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Liverpool are set to land a £1.2m windfall from the deal after insisting on a 10 per cent sell-on clause when Awoniyi joined Union Berlin for £6.5m last July.
The striker will add brains as well as brawn to Forest's frontline.
Awoniyi has a Diploma in Business Administration and Marketing Management and is studying for a degree in Business Administration.
And he was smart enough to detect Cooper has a burning desire to restore Forest's reputation at home and abroad.
The Nigerian Under-17 world cup winner said: "What stood out about Forest were the meetings with the head coach and the discussions we had. I can see how ambitious and dedicated he is to his job.
"My dream is to always keep working and I see him as a person who I can develop under.
"For me, it's always about hard work, dedication and believing in God. When I look back at the games with Union Berlin, it was always about the team for me.
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"When I look at Forest and look at the history of the club, it's even more about the team. This is the kind of place I love to belong to and I am ready for it.
"Every striker wants to score goals, but I'm ready to work for the team, to fight for every ball, to win every challenge, that's my style and that's what I'm here for."
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