Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem has completed a move to Turkish Super Lig side Konyaspor from French club Nantes ahead of next season.
The experienced defender only joined Nantes last summer after a brief stint in the Major League Soccer with FC Cincinnati and Colorado Rapids.
While he played a major role for the club and was one of their best performers, his impressive performances was not enough to keep them from suffering relegation to Ligue 2 at the end of the season.
Awaziem was then keen on an exit and has now sealed a return to Turkey for a third stint after previously playing for Caykur Rizespor and Alanyaspor on separate loan spells.
The 29-year-old has now agreed to join Konyaspor on an initial two-year deal, making him the fifth Nigerian player in the history of the club and will be eyeing a major impact for them next season.
Transfer fee and contract details
Konyaspor will pay a fee in the region of €1 million to Nantes for the signature of Awaziem, adding the Super Eagles defender to their ranks ahead of next season.
The Turkish club had been keen on signing the defender as they pushed to strengthen their backline ahead of the upcoming campaign. Nantes’ relegation then gave them a perfect chance to complete the signing, with the French club needing to make some sales after dropping to the lower division.
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Awaziem will join the club on an initial two-year deal, with the option of an additional year if certain criteria are met, potentially keeping him in the Super Lig until 2029.
Salary details
Awaziem previously earned around €27,000 per week at Nantes, which amounted to around €1.4 million annually.
However, his salary details at Konyaspor has not been disclosed although he could be set for a slight increase in pay.
From Northwestern France to Turkey
Awaziem moved to Nantes in the French Ligue last summer and was a bright spark despite what proved to be a difficult season at the club.
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The 29-year-old is now set for his third spell in Turkey as he joins the growing list of Nigerian players in the Super Lig and will be hoping to make impact and establish himself as a key player at Konyaspor for the next few years.
