Taiwo Awoniyi to stay at Nottingham Forest until he can apply for a British passport

Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who joined Nottingham Forest in July 2022 for a club‑record £17 million fee, plans to remain in England until he qualifies for British citizenship. Former teammate Seyi Olofinjana explained that Awoniyi wants to complete the five‑year continuous residence requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain, which would be met in mid‑2027, and then wait a further year before applying for a UK passport, likely around July 2028. The mentor said, “The day he gets to play in England, I told him he’ll stay there until he gets a second passport, but Nigeria will always be your home.” Because the timeline aligns with his current contract and Forest’s long‑term plans, a move abroad is not expected before 2028. Awoniyi’s career path was shaped by Olofinjana, who first discovered him in 2010 and helped secure moves to Liverpool and Union Berlin before his Forest transfer.