Chijioke Gabriel
This is no doubt some good news for Nigeria football lovers as Nottingham Forest have confirmed that Nigerian duo Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi will remain at the club next season, following the release of the team’s retained list on Monday.
Despite undergoing a squad shake-up that includes the departure of defender Harry Toffolo and the return of Alex Moreno to Aston Villa after a loan spell, Forest have kept faith in the Super Eagles pair.
Aina and Awoniyi were among several senior players listed as under contract for the 2025/26 campaign.
Aina, who joined Forest in July 2023 on a free transfer from Torino, enjoyed a standout season under Nuno Espírito Santo.
The versatile full-back featured in 35 Premier League matches, starting every game and accumulating over 3,000 minutes of action.
He scored twice, provided one assist, and contributed to 11 clean sheets, earning him a tag as one of the best full backs in the league.
The club had earlier activated a one-year extension clause in Aina’s contract in May, signalling their satisfaction with the 27-year-old’s performances.
His goals in key wins against Brentford and West Ham helped Forest navigate a mixed campaign in which they secured a UEFA Conference League slot despite spending most part of the season in Champions League position.
Awoniyi, on the other hand, endured a tough season that saw him dropped in perking orders, which limited him to just 893 minutes of Premier League action.
The striker scored just one league goal before suffering a severe abdominal injury during a match against Leicester City in May, which required emergency surgery and saw him placed in an induced coma. He has since regained consciousness and is recovering.
Despite growing uncertainty around his long-term role at the City Ground, Forest opted to retain the 26-year-old.
Awoniyi’s future had come under scrutiny recently following reports of an impending arrival of Brazilian forward Igor Jesus from Botafogo, alongside other reinforcements.
His 2022 move from Union Berlin for a club-record £17m had raised expectations, especially after his vital goals during the 2022/23 run-in secured Forest’s Premier League status.
However, inconsistent form and persistent injuries in subsequent seasons have hampered his impact, with just eight goals scored over the last two campaigns.
The club’s retained list also confirmed that centre-back Willy Boly has been offered a new contract, while discussions are ongoing regarding Wayne Hennessey’s future role.
