Bundesliga: Mainz plot January move for Nigerian star missing at AFCON 2025

Bundesliga bottom club Mainz 05 are considering a January move for Nigeria and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi as they battle to avoid relegation and search urgently for attacking reinforcements, Soccernet.ng reports.

According to German football magazine Kicker, Mainz have identified the Super Eagles forward as a leading target ahead of the winter transfer window, with the club anchored to the foot of the Bundesliga table and struggling for goals.

Awoniyi, 28, has found opportunities limited at Forest this season and could be open to a return to Germany, where he enjoyed the most productive spell of his career.

Get Our Sports News First – Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!

Nigeria's Awoniyi: Fischer factor and a familiar Bundesliga pathway

A move to Mainz would reunite Awoniyi with head coach Urs Fischer, the man who oversaw the striker’s development into an elite Bundesliga forward during their time together at Union Berlin.

The pair previously worked together during the 2020-21 season, when Fischer pushed for Union to sign Awoniyi permanently from Liverpool following years of loan moves.

That decision proved pivotal. Awoniyi went on to score 20 goals across all competitions in the 2021-22 campaign, helping Union Berlin qualify for the Europa League and elevating his status across German football.

Awoniyi also has history with Mainz, having spent the 2019-20 season at the club on loan from Liverpool. While that spell yielded just one league goal in 12 appearances, his subsequent rise at Union Berlin reshaped perceptions of his ability and suitability to the Bundesliga’s physical and tactical demands.

Mainz are now hoping that familiarity, with the league, the environment and the coach, could help spark a revival as they attempt to rescue their season.

Limited role at Forest fuels January uncertainty

Awoniyi’s time at Nottingham Forest has stalled this season, with the striker behind Chris Wood and Igor Jesus in the attacking pecking order under head coach Nuno Espírito Santo.

Injuries have also disrupted his rhythm. He has made just five Premier League appearances this campaign and was restricted to a brief cameo in Forest’s recent 1-0 defeat to Fulham.

Forest signed Awoniyi from Union Berlin in 2022 for a reported €20.5m, but his output and market value have dipped since the move to England.

Due to his inconsistent form, Awoniyi was not included in Nigeria’s squad to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.