Ola Aina reacts to Taiwo Awoniyi’s Coventry City transfer: “I’m alone now”

Ola Aina says Taiwo Awoniyi’s departure from Nottingham Forest has left him feeling like the club’s only Nigerian, Soccernet.ng reports.

However, the Super Eagles defender is happy his former club teammate has moved to Coventry City in search of regular football.

Aina made the comments in an interview with R.org as Forest adjust to life under new manager Oliver Glasner. The 29-year-old has started all three Premier League games this season after recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out for much of the previous campaign.

Awoniyi left Forest in August after four seasons at the City Ground. Coventry paid about £9m for the Nigeria striker, who joined Frank Lampard's newly promoted side after helping Forest establish themselves in the Premier League.

The transfer also ended a close Nigerian connection at Forest. Aina and Awoniyi had shared the dressing room since Aina arrived from Torino in 2023, while Awoniyi had joined Forest a year earlier from Union Berlin. Aina said the change has taken some getting used to, but his focus is now on Forest's season.

Aina and Awoniyi's Forest years

Aina joined Forest as a free agent in July 2023, with Awoniyi already an important part of the squad. Aina later recalled that having Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis around helped him settle quickly in Nottingham.

Their time together included some of Forest's most important moments in recent years. Awoniyi had scored 11 goals in all competitions in his first season at the club, including the goal that secured a 1-0 Premier League win over Arsenal in May 2023 and confirmed Forest's top-flight survival.

Aina's first Forest campaign produced 22 Premier League appearances and a goal against Aston Villa. He then became a key player in 2024-25, starting 35 of Forest's 38 league matches as the club finished seventh and qualified for European football. Forest rewarded him with a new contract through June 2028.

Awoniyi's Forest career ended with 23 goals in 103 appearances in all competitions. His four years included a serious run of injuries, including surgery for a groin problem and a major abdominal injury in May 2025. Despite those setbacks, he was still a popular figure around the City Ground.

Aina was asked what it feels like to lose his Nigerian teammate. His answer was simple: “Yeah, I’m alone now.” He then made clear that his priority is football rather than dwelling on the departure.

“I just want to keep playing and enjoying my football. That's the main thing for me,” Aina said. “I'm also happy for Taiwo [Awoniyi]. He's gone somewhere where he’s going to play more games.

“I messaged him personally that day and it was a personal note I sent to him. I was so happy for him. It's between us and I hope we can have a good season.”

The move has also given Awoniyi another Nigerian teammate. Frank Onyeka had joined Coventry on loan from Brentford in February and helped the club win promotion before completing a permanent move in July.

Onyeka started Coventry's 3-0 defeat by Arsenal and also started against Manchester City, giving Awoniyi a familiar face in another new dressing room.