Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem is back at a familiar hunting ground after completing a transfer from Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids to Ligue 1 outfit FC Nantes.
The club announced the defender’s signing on its website on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Yellow and Greens, marking a return to the French club where he once enjoyed a fruitful loan spell during the 2017/18 season.
Awaziem, who was born on January 1, 1997, in Enugu, began his football journey at El Kanemi Warriors before moving to Portugal, where he completed his development with FC Porto in 2014. He made his professional debut two years later at just 19, and his early promise earned him a loan move to Nantes in July 2017.
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During that stint, the Nigerian international featured in 23 matches and scored one goal, gaining valuable experience alongside established names like Diego Carlos, Andrei Girotto, and Nicolas Pallois.
Speaking on his return to the Ligue 1 side, Awaziem expressed delight at rejoining a club he considers close to his heart:
“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.
“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.”
Since leaving Nantes the first time, Awaziem has had a journeyman career across Europe and beyond, playing for Turkish side Rizespor, Spain’s Leganés, and Boavista in Portugal, where he featured in 59 matches. He also had loan spells at Alanyaspor (Turkey), Hajduk Split (Croatia), FC Cincinnati, and most recently Colorado Rapids in the MLS.
Awaziem made his debut for Nigeria in June 2017 in an AFCON qualifier against South Africa. He has gone on to earn 34 caps for the Super Eagles, featuring at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Known for his strong physical presence, the 1.89m defender is dominant in aerial duels and quick across the turf. His passing has improved significantly over the years, making him a more complete and reliable presence at the back.
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