French club Nantes have secured the return of Chidozie Awaziem, just weeks after Moses Simon’s departure, www.isagoal.com reports, reuniting with another Nigerian international.
The deal was confirmed by the Ligue 1 side, who announced the signing of the Super Eagles defender from Colorado Rapids on a three-year contract. The 27-year-old returns to a familiar environment after impressing on loan at Nantes during the 2017/18 campaign.
Awaziem first made waves in Europe after leaving Nigeria’s El Kanemi Warriors for FC Porto’s academy in 2014.
His senior breakthrough came in 2016, followed by a loan move to Nantes where he appeared in 23 matches and scored once.
He shared the pitch then with defensive names like Diego Carlos and Nicolas Pallois, forming a solid partnership.
Speaking on his return, Awaziem said, “When the opportunity presented itself, I didn’t hesitate for a single second to come back, because for me, Nantes is like home.”
He described the city as welcoming and expressed his ambition to help the club compete at the top again.
Since his first spell in France, Awaziem has played in Turkey, Spain, Croatia, Portugal, and the United States.
He earned his Nigeria debut in 2017 and has since appeared in 34 international games, including World Cup and AFCON appearances.
Known for his aerial strength, physical presence, and growing distribution skills, he’s expected to bring stability to a rebuilding Nantes squad.
Awaziem follows Moses Simon, who left on July 1st after six years and a club record in assists, cementing his status as a fan favourite.
This transfer also marks Awaziem as the third Nigerian to feature for Nantes, after Simon and Samson Siasia.
With Ligue 1 action just around the corner, the Yellow and Green are counting on their Nigerian defender to fortify the backline and push for Europe.
This article was updated 2 days ago