Early Life and Parents

Taiwo Micheal Awoniyi was born on 12 August 1997 in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State in Nigeria. He grew up in a Yoruba Christian household, and money was tight for most of his childhood. His father, Elder Solomon Adewoye Awoniyi, worked as a police officer and earned just enough to keep the family going. His mother, Mary Motunrayo Awoniyi, was the one who first put a football in his hands when she bought him a small ball from the market.

His parents had different dreams for him at first. His mother backed his football journey early on, while his father wanted him to become a doctor. After some persuasion, his father agreed on one condition: Taiwo had to keep up with his school work. He later went on to study Business Administration while chasing his football dream. He is also a twin; his twin sister Kehinde Awoniyi remains one of his closest people, and his elder brother Victor played a fatherly role in his early years.

Career Journey

Awoniyi's rise started at the Imperial Soccer Academy in Nigeria, run by former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana. Scouts noticed his sharpness during a Coca-Cola youth tournament in London where he was named MVP back in 2010.

In August 2015, Liverpool signed him for around £400,000. The catch was that he could not get a UK work permit, so Liverpool loaned him out repeatedly. He had spells at FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen, Mouscron, Gent, Mainz 05, and Union Berlin. He never played a single senior game for Liverpool. Union Berlin signed him permanently in 2021 for around £6.5 million, and one year later, Nottingham Forest paid a club record fee (reported at £17.5 million) to bring him to the Premier League. He has been at the City Ground ever since.

Wife and Family

Taiwo Awoniyi is married to Taiye Jesudun. They met during their secondary school days in Nigeria. Taiwo has spoken openly about how poor he was back then and how he used to take food from her at school. She never made a fuss about it, and that kindness is what made him fall for her.

After about eight years of dating, the couple got married. Their traditional wedding took place on 15 June 2018 in Kabba, Kogi State, followed by a white wedding the next day at God's Grace Foundation Church in Ilorin. Their first son, Emmanuel, was born on 16 October 2020. Their second child arrived on 12 August 2023, which is also Taiwo's birthday.

Religion

Awoniyi is a Christian and he does not hide it. His whole family is Christian, and he is part of a group called Ballers in God, made up of Nigerian footballers who share their faith openly. He often credits God for his recovery from injuries and for the doors that have opened in his career. Faith is a big part of how he talks about football and life.

Net Worth and Salary

Footballers earn money from several places at once, and Awoniyi is no different. His income comes mainly from his Nottingham Forest wages, bonuses, image rights, and a slow but steady set of endorsements.

Icon Polls estimates that his net worth in 2026 sits between $7 million and $12 million. The wide range exists because not every contract and bonus is public. His weekly wage is reported to be around £50,000 at Nottingham Forest, which works out to about £2.6 million per year before tax. Add the transfer fees, his Union Berlin earnings, his Liverpool signing money, and his commercial deals, and the picture starts to make sense.

Transfer Value in 2026

His current market value in 2026 sits between €12 million and €15.7 million according to several football valuation models. Icon Polls considers this a fair range given his age, his recent injury history, and the fact that he has dropped down the pecking order at Forest behind Chris Wood and Igor Jesus. His contract ends on 30 June 2027, so any club hoping to sign him for less may try to wait, but Nottingham Forest will likely want to either renew the deal or cash in before he can leave for free.

Stats and On-Pitch Performance

In the 2025/2026 Premier League season, Awoniyi has 4 goals and 1 assist in roughly 360 minutes on the pitch, with an average match rating of 6.46. The minutes are limited because of injury setbacks and squad rotation, but his goals per minute ratio is still respectable for a striker coming back from major surgery.

Across his Nottingham Forest career since 2022, he has passed the 100 game mark for the club. His best Premier League season was 2022/2023, when his goals helped Forest stay up after promotion. He is known as a poacher, strong in the air, good with his back to goal, and direct in the box.

Injury History

Injuries have been a real part of Awoniyi's story over the last two seasons. The biggest one came in May 2025, when he collided with the goalpost during a Premier League match against Leicester City. He played on but later required emergency abdominal surgery. He was placed in an induced coma for part of the procedure and the news was a shock to fans across Nigeria and England.

He recovered well over the summer and returned to training before the 2025/2026 season. He has since picked up smaller setbacks, including a muscle injury in late November 2025 that kept him out for a stretch. His injury list over the years also includes groin issues, a broken nose in February 2025, a hamstring problem in April 2025, and earlier muscle complaints.

Frequently Asked Questions about Taiwo Awoniyi

1. Who is Taiwo Awoniyi?

Taiwo Awoniyi is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League side Nottingham Forest and the Nigerian national team. He is known for his strength, his work rate, and his ability to hold the ball up for teammates.

2. How old is Taiwo Awoniyi in 2026?

Taiwo Awoniyi is 28 years old in 2026. He was born on 12 August 1997.

3. Where is Taiwo Awoniyi from?

Taiwo Awoniyi is from Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State in Nigeria. He is from the Yoruba ethnic group.

4. What is Taiwo Awoniyi's net worth in 2026?

His net worth is believed to sit somewhere between $7 million and $12 million. The exact figure is not public, but estimates from Icon Polls fall within that bracket based on his salary, bonuses, transfer fees, and endorsements.

5. How much does Taiwo Awoniyi earn at Nottingham Forest?

Reports suggest his weekly wage is around £50,000, which works out to roughly £2.6 million per year before tax. This number can vary slightly with performance bonuses and appearance fees.

6. Who is Taiwo Awoniyi's wife?

His wife is Taiye Jesudun. She is a Nigerian who met Taiwo back in their secondary school days. They got married in June 2018 in Ilorin.

7. Does Taiwo Awoniyi have children?

Yes. He has two children with Taiye Jesudun. His first son, Emmanuel, was born on 16 October 2020. His second child arrived on 12 August 2023, which also happens to be his own birthday.

8. What is Taiwo Awoniyi's religion?

He is a devout Christian. He is also part of a group called Ballers in God, a fellowship of Nigerian footballers who share their faith publicly.

9. Who are Taiwo Awoniyi's parents?

His father is Elder Solomon Adewoye Awoniyi, a retired police officer. His mother is Mrs. Mary Motunrayo Awoniyi. Both are Christians from Kwara State.

10. Is Taiwo Awoniyi a twin?

Yes. He has a twin sister named Kehinde Awoniyi. In Yoruba culture, Taiwo is the name given to the first born twin, while Kehinde is the second.

11. What is Taiwo Awoniyi's current club?

He currently plays for Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League. He joined them from Union Berlin in 2022 for a then club record fee.

12. What position does Taiwo Awoniyi play?

He plays as a striker, also called a centre forward. He is right footed and wears the number 9 shirt.

13. How tall is Taiwo Awoniyi?

He stands at 1.83 metres, which is about 6 feet 0 inches. His height helps him win headers and battle defenders in the box.

14. When does Taiwo Awoniyi's contract end?

His current contract with Nottingham Forest is set to run out on 30 June 2027.

15. What is Taiwo Awoniyi's transfer value in 2026?

His market value sits at around €12 million to €15.7 million in 2026, depending on the source. Icon Polls views this as a fair window given his age, recovery from injury, and reduced game time this season.

16. Did Taiwo Awoniyi ever play for Liverpool?

Yes and no. He signed for Liverpool in 2015 for around £400,000 but never played a senior match for them. He spent six years on loan at various European clubs because he could not get a UK work permit at the time.

17. What clubs has Taiwo Awoniyi played for?

He has been on the books of Liverpool, FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen, Royal Excel Mouscron, KAA Gent, Mainz 05, Union Berlin, and now Nottingham Forest. Most of these were loan spells from Liverpool.

18. What injury did Taiwo Awoniyi suffer in 2025?

He suffered a very serious injury in May 2025 after colliding with the goalpost during a Premier League match against Leicester City. He ruptured part of his abdomen and was placed in an induced coma. He had surgery and slowly returned to fitness later that year.

19. What is Taiwo Awoniyi's current injury status?

He picked up a muscle injury in late November 2025 which has kept him out of the squad for a stretch of matches. His return depends on his recovery progress and the club's medical team.

20. Does Taiwo Awoniyi play for the Nigerian national team?

Yes. He is a regular member of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. He has represented the country at youth and senior levels.

21. How many goals has Taiwo Awoniyi scored in the 2025/2026 season?

He has 4 goals and 1 assist in the Premier League in the 2025/2026 season so far, in roughly 360 minutes of play.

22. Did Taiwo Awoniyi win the FIFA U-17 World Cup?

Yes. He was part of the Nigerian squad that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2013, one of the proudest moments of his early career.