Forest give Awoniyi emotional guard of honour before £9m Coventry switch

Taiwo Awoniyi has completed a reported £9m move to newly promoted Coventry City from Nottingham Forest, with boss Oliver Glasner insisting the striker received the honourable farewell he deserved after years of service at the City Ground.

The Nigerian forward arrives at the CBS Arena for a fee in the region of £9m, with the length of his contract at his new club yet to be disclosed. His final appearance for Forest came last week against Bayer Leverkusen in a pre-season friendly, but the 29-year-old was brought out at the City Ground on Sunday for a touching send-off before the second half of their match against Brest.

Awoniyi was given a guard of honour by his team-mates before being tossed into the air, and Glasner believes it was a fitting tribute to a player who endeared himself to everyone connected with the club.

"He was probably one of the loveliest guys I've met, always friendly, always smiling," said Glasner. "Everybody in the club likes him and I could see everybody in the stand likes him because this is what everybody appreciates.

"He always gives 100% for the team, he always gives 100% for the bench, and that's why he deserves such a farewell, such a guard of honour. That's why we decided we would give it to him and I wish him all the best at his next club, just not when they play us."

Awoniyi scored 23 goals in 103 appearances for Forest, but found himself down the pecking order last season as Chris Wood and Igor Jesus were preferred options in attack.

He could make his Coventry debut on the opening day of the 2026-27 campaign, when Frank Lampard's side take on reigning champions Arsenal on Friday.