Super Eagles defender, Chidozie Awaziem, has completed a permanent transfer to French Ligue 1 club FC Nantes.
The 28-year-old defender joins the Canaries from Major League Soccer outfit Colorado Rapids, penning a three-year deal with the French side.
Awaziem had only moved to Colorado Rapids in December, switching from fellow MLS club FC Cincinnati.
However, his stint in the United States proved to be brief as he now returns to familiar ground in France.
A Return to Familiar Surroundings
This marks a second spell at Nantes for Awaziem, who previously donned the yellow and green during a loan move from FC Porto in the 2018/19 campaign.
During that season, he made 23 appearances and found the back of the net once.
“Nantes is like home,” said the versatile centre-back, who still holds fond memories of his time at the Stade de la Beaujoire.
“When the opportunity presented itself, I didn’t hesitate for a single second to come back, because for me, Nantes is like home. The people are lovely, the club is great, and I was really looking forward to returning to this environment,” Awaziem told the club’s official website.
“From a sporting perspective, I want to do everything I can to help the Club achieve its goals, win trophies, compete at the highest level against the best teams and bring FC Nantes back to the top.”
Adding Experience to the Squad
Nantes will be counting on Awaziem’s wealth of experience as they look to bounce back from recent struggles in Ligue 1, where they have flirted with relegation in the past few seasons.
The Nigerian defender began his professional journey in Portugal and has since played in Spain, Turkey, Croatia, and the USA, building a résumé that spans multiple top leagues.
On the international stage, Awaziem has been a consistent presence for Nigeria, featuring in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and three consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2019, 2021, and 2023.
