Awoniyi likely to remain in England for British passport

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is likely to remain in England for the foreseeable future as he aims to secure a British passport, former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana has revealed. Olofinjana, who has mentored Awoniyi for over a decade, stated that the striker intends to stay in England long enough to qualify for British citizenship.

"The day he gets to play in England, I told him he’ll stay there until he gets a second passport, but Nigeria will always be your home," Olofinjana said on the Playzone podcast. "That’s why Taiwo Awoniyi is not going anywhere. He’s going to stay in England until he gets his passport."

Under current UK immigration rules, Awoniyi must complete five continuous years of living and working in England to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). His qualifying period began when he joined Nottingham Forest in July 2022. This means he should be eligible for ILR in July 2027. Following a further 12 months with ILR, he can apply for British citizenship, potentially obtaining a British passport around July 2028, assuming immigration rules remain unchanged.

This timeline aligns with Awoniyi's current long-term plans at Forest, making a move outside England before then improbable. Olofinjana's influence on Awoniyi's career dates back to 2010 when he discovered him at a youth tournament. He facilitated Awoniyi's move to the Imperial Soccer Academy and later played a crucial role in securing his transfer to Liverpool.

Despite facing work permit restrictions that led to loan spells in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, Olofinjana remained a key advisor. Forest also values Awoniyi's contributions on the field. He recovered from a life-threatening abdominal injury in May 2025 to return to action five months later. Last season, he scored four Premier League goals and provided one assist in 17 appearances, often coming off the bench.

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The day he gets to play in England, I told him he’ll stay there until he gets a second passport, but Nigeria will always be your home. That’s why Taiwo Awoniyi is not going anywhere. He’s going to stay in England until he gets his passport.