Liverpool youngster Taiwo Awoniyi opens up on work permit issues

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Liverpool youngster Taiwo Awoniyi says it ‘saddens my heart’ to struggle to obtain a work permit.

The striker was signed by the Reds back in 2015 for £400,000 from Nigeria’s Imperial Academy (The Guardian), but is yet to represent the club having never been granted a work permit in the UK.

Since signing, Awoniyi has been out on loan five times and is currently with Belgian outfit Royal Excel Mouscron for a second time.

He’s also had stints at FSV Frankfurt, N.E.C and Gent.

At Mouscron, Awoniyi has scored seven goals in nine games, but the striker cannot think about realising his dream at Anfield due to the issues he’s had getting a permit.

He told BBC Sport, as quoted by The Liverpool Echo: “It saddens my heart that it’s been difficult to get a work permit for the past four years.

“At the end of the season we have to go back to Liverpool to discuss. Everyone knows the importance of the work permit and how it works, and that you’d need to play for your national team.

“If God says it will happen then it will, but if not then I can only go on with my life and career.”

TBR’s view

One has to feel for Awoniyi, who is a young player with a dream to play in the Premier League.

He currently represents the Nigeria U23s but must get a senior call-up.

Non-EU players must prove themselves to be of ‘the highest calibre’ in order to obtain a work permit.

All Awoniyi can do is keep plugging away and hope his form in Belgium catches the attention of Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr.

If he cannot secure a permit, then Liverpool may reluctantly have to sell him this summer. He is supposedly valued at around £12 million, with Schalke keen (via The Liverpool Echo).