Premier League side Crystal Palace have entered the race to sign Chibuike Nwaiwu, setting up a transfer battle with fellow English club Fulham for the signature of the Super Eagles defender, Soccernet.ng reports.
Fulham have been working on a deal for the 23-year-old throughout the summer and have already seen two bids rejected by Turkish club Trabzonspor.
Trabzonspor are reportedly holding out for between €30 million and €35 million, a fee that would make Nwaiwu the most expensive outgoing transfer in Turkish football history.
Despite the high asking price, Fulham stepped up their pursuit following the departure of Moroccan defender Issa Diop to Ipswich Town. The Cottagers have agreed personal terms with Nwaiwu and were only working on reaching an agreement with Trabzonspor for a deal.
However, according to Foot-Africa, Crystal Palace have now made a late move to hijack the deal. The Eagles are hoping to beat their Premier League rivals to the defender's signature, which would still see Nwaiwu end up in London, although this time in the south of the capital city.
Crystal Palace or Fulham: Where could Nwaiwu end up?
Nwaiwu's rise over the past year has been remarkable. Just last year, he was playing in the Austrian Bundesliga with Wolfsberger, where he helped the club win the Austrian Cup during the 2024-25 season – marking their first major domestic trophy in the club's history.
The 23-year-old then joined Trabzonspor during the winter transfer window earlier this year and quickly established himself as one of the club's key defenders. He made several appearances in all competitions and played the full 90 minutes as Trabzonspor defeated Konyaspor 2-1 to lift the Turkish Cup.
The young defender also went on to make his debut for the Super Eagles in March and was a mainstay in the heart of the defence as Eric Chelle’s men went on to win the 2026 Unity Cup tournament. His impressive performances have now attracted serious interest from the Premier League.
Crystal Palace's interest intensified with the expected departure of French defender Maxence Lacroix, which would leave a major gap in the Eagles' defence. The Eagles have identified Nwaiwu as an ideal replacement and have now approached Trabzonspor to explore a deal.
Although Nwaiwu is open to remaining in Turkey, the opportunity to play in the Premier League could be difficult to turn down.
His next destination remains uncertain, but a move to England appears increasingly likely. Whether he joins Crystal Palace or Fulham may ultimately depend on which club is willing to meet Trabzonspor's valuation.
