Taiwo Awoniyi 2022 Player Profile, 10 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know

The Super Eagles star, Taiwo Awoniyi started his youth career in 2010 with Imperial Soccer Academy and he is currently playing as a forward for Bundesliga club Union Berlin.

Ever since the 27 year-old, Nigerian Striker was voted the most valuable player at a Coca-cola football competition, his style of play has been compared to Nigeria’s finest-ever striker and all-time highest scorer, Rashidi Yekini.

Taiwo Awoniyi has been married to his longtime sweetheart, Taiye Jesudun since June 2018 and they share a son together.

Taiwo Awoniyi  Current Player Profile 2022

• Full Name: Taiwo Michael Awoniyi
• Date of birth: Aug 12, 1997
• Age: 27 years old
• Place of birth: Ilorin
• Nationality: Nigerian
• Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
• Position: Attack-center-forward
• Foot: Right
• Player Agent: ROOF
• Previous Club: Mainz 05
• Current club: 1 FC Union Berlin
• Jersey: 14
• Joined: Jul 20, 2021
• Contract expires:-

Here Are Some Interesting Facts About The Nigerian Attacker Taiwo Awoniyi

1. Awoniyi has a twin sister

Taiwo Michael Awoniyi was born into a tight-knitted family on August 12 1997 together with his twin sister, Kehinde in Illorin, Nigeria. The twins were raised together with their siblings in Gbagba in Ilorin. His father, Mr. Solomon Awoniyi was a police officer.

2. His father tried to discourage him from playing football

According to reports, Taiwo’s father revealed how he used to beat him just to discourage him from playing football. The older Awoniyi never knew his son would play football at the international level now.

It is said that the Nigerian Forward started playing football during his elementary school days when he would even leave the house just to go and play football without his family member’s knowledge.

His father who is now proud of him praised the efforts of his son’s former coach, Rasaq Olojo.

3. The former Nigeria midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana was the one who discovered Taiwo Awoniyi

The 27 year-old athlete has had a remarkable journey in football. In 2010, his performance got him noticed at the Coca-Cola football competition in London by one of the founders of the prestigious Imperial Soccer Academy in Lagos, Nigeria, Seyi Olofinjana.

Seyi Olofinjana and his partner, Atiba Bankole went to London to watch Taiwo play after he was recommended by a scout. After the Nigerian footballer joined the academy, it was a big relief for him as he no longer had to worry about having to worry about having boots or trekking to the training venue.

After representing Nigeria at the U17 World Cup, he caught the attention of clubs across Europe.

Liverpool scouted Taiwo before the U17 World Cup so on August 31, 2015 the English club signed him for a fee of around £400,000. Upon arriving Liverpool, he was immediately loaned out to the German club, FSV Frankfurt.

Awoniyi made his debit for his club in a match against Hertha Berlin as a late substitute. He continued to play as substitute for six league matches. He later suffered relegation with Frankfurt and so he returned to Liverpool at the end of the season.

He was again loaned out to a Dutch team NEC on 26 August 2016. Taiwo made  his Eredivisie debut in a 4-0 defeat of NEC to PSV Eindhoven. he suffered his second consecutive relegation from Eredivisie in 2017.

The father of one later left NEC and joined Belgian club Royal Excel Mouscron in July 2017 on a season-long loan. He made his debut for the club on August 12 in a match against KSC Lokeren which he scored in the 23rd minutes.

On July 17 2018, Awoniyi signed a long-term deal with Liverpool but was on July 23 he was already on loan to another Belgian club, Gent. His loan there was cut short as he was again loaned to his former club Mouscron.

Liverpool later confirmed the Nigerian forwar’d status as he was to join the Bundesliga side Mainz 05 on a season-long loan.

After being on loan about seven times, he finally joined Bundesliga side Union Berlin in September 2020 for only a year. Taiwo Awoniyi rejoined Union Berlin on July 20 2021 on a permanent deal after the club reportedly paid £6.5 millionas transfer fee.

The Super Eagles striker has scored 7 goals in 11 Bundesliga games for his new club.

Read Also: Samuel Chukwueze: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Nigerian Player

4. He has represented Nigeria at the international level as well

Playing at the international level during his youth career brought the spotlight of the Awoniyi twin. After scoring four goals during the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, he was agained named to represent Nigeria at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Taiwo Awoniyi scored a brace during his debut for Nigeria U-23 team on April 12, 2015 in a match against Zambia. He was selected as part of Nigerian 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, former Nigerian coach Gernot Rohr selected Taiwo among those that would play for the country during the qualifiers. Also, he is currently among the 28-man list of players that would represent Nigeria during the 2021 AFCON.

5. Taiwo Awoniyi moved away from his parents at the age of 13

The 27 year-old reportedly moved away from his family at 13 to attend the soccer academy in Lagos, Nigeria. At first, it was hard to convince his parents to allow him move but they later agreed on the condition that he would focus on his education as well.

6. The Nigerian Forward bears the same name as his wife

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Taiwo Awoniyi (@awoniyi18)

A rare coincedence of couples bearing the same name is the case of the Taiwos. The Nigeria International player and his wife are both twins and they both happen to bear Taiwo even though there might be a variation in the spelling of the name. While he is a mix gender twin, his wife is not.

Taiwo and his wife welcomed their son, Emmanuel on October 16, 2020.

7. Is Taiwo Awoniyi as tall as he looks?

The attacker’s height and strength was the first thing that football scouts noticed about him when he was discovered. With athletic features, he stands 6 feet tall. His height has always been in his favour and makes him a fearsome defensive player on the pitch.

8. He has a unique playing style 

It is not surprising that the 27 year-old Union Berlin Forward is expected to fill in the void of Rashidi Yekini. The two have similar raw power, fierce movement and speed.

Inasmuch as he reportedly reminds many Nigerians of one of the finest ever strikers, he revealed he could only aspire to be like the late Yekini.

9. How rich is the Illorin-native player?

While he was playing for Liverpool FC, the player reportedly earned £35,000weekly and £1,820,000 annually. However, his salary at Union Berlin is still under wraps at the time of this writing.

Taiwo’s transfer market value is said to be €15 million but his exact net worth is still not available. There are speculations that he might have a net worth that ranges from $500,000 and $1 million.

For someone who could barely afford boots for training while growing up, Taiwo has reportedly bagged an endorsement with Nike in the past. His endorsement deals have possible increased his income not just his career in football.

10. The 27 year-old Union Berlin Forward began the 2021/2022 season on a good note 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Taiwo Awoniyi (@awoniyi18)

Taiwo Awoniyi has remained determined on doing his best in his career. He began his 2021/2022 season with a bright start by winning the Player of the Month Award for August 2021. Aside from that he and his super eagles teammates have some of  these awards/titles:

• FIFA U-17 World Cup: 2013
• African U-20 Championship: 2015
• August Player of the Month

Complete profile of Taiwo Awoniyi