Taiwo Awoniyi

Closer to Anfield than Ever

His dream has always been to play for Liverpool since being signed by the Merseyside giants, but not securing a work permit culminated in his going on a seven-loan spell. With the work permit now granted, Awoniyi has a chance to play for the Anfield giants or at least play in England with three English clubs already scrambling for his signature.

After his exploits with the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria at the 2013 U-17 World Cup, he was seen as one of the youngest talents in world football, which led to scrambling for his signature by big European clubs. In 2015, Taiwo Adeniyi joined Liverpool and had a dream of making an impact with the Merseyside but it was not to be as he never got the chance to lace his boots for the Anfield side for once due to failure to secure a UK work permit. All that may have changed now, after the Imperial Academy product, was granted the permit by the  UK government during the week.

The 23-year-old whose loan to German club Union Berlin this season has been blighted by injury joined Liverpool on a long-term deal in August 2015 from Nigeria’s Imperial Academy, but has never played for The Reds due to his inability to secure a work permit.
It means Awoniyi, who is currently on a seventh loan spell outside of the United Kingdom at German side Union Berlin, is now eligible to be included in the Liverpool squad for next season.
“It’s been a long process but finally Taiwo Awoniyi can now focus on his career either at Liverpool or somewhere in England,” a top official at Imperial Academy told BBC Sport Africa.
“He has the ambition to play in the Premier League and hopefully he can do that next season.”
Fit-again Awoniyi, who has a contract with Liverpool until June 2023, scored five goals in 20 appearances for Union Berlin despite an injury-blighted campaign in the Bundesliga.
Since becoming a Red, the forward has enjoyed loan spells with then German second-tier club FSV Frankfurt, Dutch side NEC Nijmegen, Belgian outfits Royal Excel Mouscron (twice) KAA Gent and Mainz in order to attract interest from national selectors and gain a work permit.
He totalled 137 games played while scoring 34 goals.
His most successful periods were with Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium’s First Division, where Awoniyi spent two separate loan spells, making 47 total appearances and scoring 21 times for the Wallonian side.
Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham, two sides set for relegation from the Premier League when the season ends are both said to be interested and would be willing to meet the Reds’ £8m asking price for Awoniyi.
If true, it would seem a decent return in the current market for a player who has yet to play in England and has averaged more than a club a season over six seasons that can’t have been especially easy for the young striker.
After this season, it is envisaged that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will run the rule over the Nigerian in pre-season training before deciding whether to retain him in the squad or sanction his departure.

Either way, it has been suggested that Liverpool won’t have problems finding a club for the striker as he has also been linked with Anderlecht, Stuttgart, Wolfsburg and Union Berlin.
Given his good performances this season, Liverpool have valued Awoniyi in the region of eight million pounds.

He disclosed his ambition to play for the reigning Premier League champions but he was left with second thoughts after another loan deal was agreed with Union Berlin in September for the entire 2020-21 season.
“It is my dream to play for Liverpool. But me playing for Liverpool has to do with getting my work permit,” Awoniyi told ESPN.
“Without it, there is no chance for me discussing about playing for Liverpool for now.
“This season was maybe a bit tough to make the decision because honestly, I was hoping to leave permanently.
“Liverpool have been great, they have been so supportive and we always talk with the director and every time, they tell me to be patient.
“But the reason I discussed something permanent this season was just that I felt most loans I have been to; have not really been the way I want it.
“And I felt like it happens that way because the loan players get less of an advantage than the players of their own club.
“That was what made me think, okay, maybe it’s time to find a home with my family.”
Players moving to the Premier League for the first time from abroad always need time to get up to speed, even more so in a system like Klopp’s, and although many had guessed if he’ll sink or swim at Anfield.
“As a boy coming from Africa, even sometimes when you have nothing to kick, once you have the ball, you forget about most of your worries and you just keep on kicking,” Awoniyi said.
He believes he has developed his game and could earn him a place in Klopp’s squad.
An U-17 World Cup winner with Nigeria in 2013, Awoniyi has represented his country at all youth levels.
He played at the 2015 U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, netting twice and then helped Nigeria win the 2015 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
However, he missed out on playing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and was also part of the squad that failed to qualify for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games.

Awoniyi was close to earning a maiden call-up to the Super Eagles squad for March’s final two qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, according to coach Gernot Rohr but missed out due to injury.

It, however, remains to be seen if his granting of work permit would help him achieve his Liverpool dream or he will just take solace in playing in England.