![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/PG1biH_6XVsabiTKab2s4EixLig=\/750x516\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F06%2F28F1C3F1-7402-4D87-8B2C-902F239F9980.png\")
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Paul Onuachu, Anthony Nwakaeme and Chibuike Nwaiwu at Trabzonspor. Photo Credit: IMAGO<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Trabzonspor have made a firm decision over the future of Super Eagles defender Chibuike Nwaiwu amid growing interest ahead of the summer transfer window,\u00a0Soccernet.ng<\/u><\/a>\u00a0reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n Nwaiwu only joined the Black Sea Storm in a\u00a0\u20ac5.5 million move from Austrian side Wolfsberger during the winter transfer window, but he has already attracted attention from Premier League club Fulham, Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen and Italian side Lazio.<\/p>\n The 22-year-old centre-back quickly established himself as a key figure in Trabzonspor\u2019s defence\u00a0and went on to make\u00a021 appearances in all competitions, missing\u00a0only two matches from his debut until the end of the season.<\/p>\n He played the full 90 minutes as Trabzonspor defeated Konyaspor 2-1<\/u><\/a>, with fellow Nigerian Paul Onuachu scoring both goals to secure\u00a0the Turkish Cup title last month, marking their first trophy since lifting the Turkish Super Cup in 2022.<\/p>\n Nwaiwu\u2019s impressive form also earned him\u00a0a call-up to the\u00a0Super Eagles under head coach Eric Chelle\u00a0and he\u00a0came on\u00a0for his debut\u00a0in Nigeria\u2019s 2-1 win over Iran in March. The young defender also featured\u00a0in both matches of the Unity Cup triumph last month, where he formed an important defensive partnership with Igor Ogbu.<\/p>\n Despite arriving only midway through the season, Nwaiwu\u2019s performances have caught the attention of\u00a0top clubs, raising the possibility of another move just months after his arrival in Turkey.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0Fotomac<\/u><\/a>, Trabzonspor have\u00a0reportedly\u00a0rejected a Fulham offer worth up to\u00a0\u20ac20 million, approximately N31 billion, for Nwaiwu.<\/p>\n Fulham are already planning for the future, with Morocco international Issa Diop\u2019s contract set to expire at the end of next season. Calvin Bassey\u2019s deal also runs out at the same time, although the club have an option to extend his contract by a further year.<\/p>\n The Cottagers want Nwaiwu to be integrated into the squad early,\u00a0especially\u00a0if either Diop or Bassey fails to agree a new contract and leaves next summer.<\/p>\n The Premier League club are\u00a0understood to have\u00a0stepped up their pursuit of the Nigerian defender, moving ahead of Bayer Leverkusen and Lazio,\u00a0as they look to strengthen their defensive options ahead of next season under new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa.<\/p>\n However, Trabzonspor\u2019s rejection shows they are under no pressure to sell. The Black Sea Storm will\u00a0only consider letting Nwaiwu leave\u00a0if they receive a record-breaking offer<\/u><\/a>\u00a0that surpasses the\u00a0\u20ac30 million Brighton paid Fenerbahce for Ferdi Kadioglu in 2024, making the Super Eagles defender the most expensive sale in Turkish football history.<\/p>\n Fulham are expected to return with an improved offer in the coming\u00a0weeks and if a deal is agreed between both clubs, it would see Nwaiwu link up with\u00a0his countrymen,\u00a0Bassey and Alex Iwobi at Craven Cottage.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/6KHuEHT3ZNU5IYIXrYbPw3w7S5A=\/1024x683\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2025%2F12%2Fimago1065372945.jpg\")
Soccer Trabzonspor reject Fulham\u2019s bid for Nwaiwu<\/h2>\n
![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/Mg9L5VH1jhXbjbT8NSi7jzMY0Kk=\/3945x2631\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F03%2Fimago1074307398.jpg\")
![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/STya-qgOAxNGH0szSrAGgQrsn7Q=\/900x674\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F02%2F20260227_223600.jpg\")
Ayomide Oguntimehin” src=”https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/ycGEJDr9VZlpO_5zujn3ZdvICxA=\/150×150\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2024%2F12%2FAyomide-Oguntimehin-pics.jpg” height=”80″ width=”80″>\t\t<\/p>\n