Fulham have taken a significant step toward completing the signing of Chibuike Nwaiwu after agreeing personal terms with the Nigerian defender on a deal running until 2030, according to footmercato.net.
The Premier League club will now turn their attention to negotiating a transfer fee with Trabzonspor.
Nwaiwu has emerged as one of the most sought-after young defenders in Turkish football, with his rapid progress since arriving at Trabzonspor drawing interest from multiple clubs across Europe. Despite the competition, Fulham are understood to have moved ahead of their rivals and are now the front runners to land the 22-year-old.
With personal terms settled, the next stage of the deal hinges on talks with Trabzonspor, who are reportedly holding out for a fee of at least €30 million before sanctioning a sale.
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Chibuike Nwaiwu’s rise has been swift. He joined Trabzonspor in January 2026 from Austrian club Wolfsberger for around €6 million and wasted little time establishing himself, becoming an immediate fixture in the side. Across all competitions in the 2025/26 season, the defender made 21 appearances, contributing three goals and an assist from defence.
Beyond his league form, Nwaiwu played a key role in Trabzonspor’s Turkish Cup triumph, helping the club lift the trophy for the first time since 2020 with a 2-1 win over Konyaspor in the final.
His breakout season has also translated to the international stage. Nwaiwu earned his first senior cap for Nigeria in March, playing 33 minutes in the Super Eagles’ 2-1 victory over Iran. He went on to start in consecutive matches at the 2026 Unity Cup, helping Eric Chelle’s side win the tournament with victories over Zimbabwe and Jamaica.
Should the move to Craven Cottage go through, Nwaiwu would link up with fellow Nigerian internationals Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi at Fulham. The club also had Samuel Chukwueze on their books during the 2025/26 campaign, though the winger has since returned to parent club AC Milan at the end of his loan spell.
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