Taiwo Awoniyi reveals desire to play in Premier League

Union Berlin forward Taiwo Awoniyi has expressed his desire to play in the English Premier League, saying it is a ‘dream.’

The 24-year-old Nigerian joined Union Berlin from Liverpool in 2021 in a permanent deal, and has scored nine goals in 18 Bundesliga appearances this season.

Awoniyi still has four years on his contract with Union Berlin but has made known his desire to play in the English top-flight.

“The Premier League is my dream. Everyone knows that, even here at the club,” Awoniyi told Kicker.de.

“If I lived in England, it would be easier for my wife and child, if only because of the language. In addition, my sister and a brother live on the island.”

Having impressed with the Nigeria U17 and U20 teams, Awoniyi was signed by Liverpool in 2015 from Imperial Academy before he was sent out on loan to German second-tier outfit FSV Frankfurt.

Unable to secure a UK work permit, he spent the next six seasons out on a series of loans, spending time at FSV Frankfurt in the German Second Division, Eredivisie outfit NEC Nijmegen and Belgium’s Mouscron and Gent.

In the 2019-20 season, he was shipped to Mainz, where he made 22 appearances, scoring five times to help the Carnival Club secure qualification for the Uefa Europa Conference League.

On September 19, 2020, Awoniyi left for his seventh loan spell, joining Union Berlin and nine months later, he was signed on a permanent basis by the club.