Chibuike Nwaiwu: Fulham eye move for Trabzonspor’s Nigerian defender

Chibuike Nwaiwu, the Nigerian centre-back currently at Trabzonspor, is being linked with a move to Premier League side Fulham as the London club explore defensive options ahead of the new season.

The 22-year-old, who has a contract with Trabzonspor until 30 June 2030, has emerged on Fulham’s radar after a strong start to life in the Turkish Super Lig. Nwaiwu joined Trabzonspor from Wolfsberger AC in January 2026 for a fee of €5.5 million and has since become a regular, making 16 league appearances and scoring three goals for the Black Sea outfit.

Fulham are understood to be considering whether to test Trabzonspor’s resolve, with Nwaiwu currently valued at around €10 million. His long-term deal in Trabzon suggests the Turkish club would be in a strong position in any negotiations over a sale.

Before moving to Turkey, Nwaiwu spent the 2024-25 season in the Austrian Bundesliga with Wolfsberger AC, where he made 37 league appearances and contributed two goals. He also lifted the Austrian Cup in 2024-25, and went on to win the Turkish Cup with Trabzonspor in the 2025-26 campaign.

Nwaiwu, born in Port Harcourt and standing at 1.93m, built his reputation in Nigeria with Enyimba Aba, where he became a Nigerian champion in 2022-23 before making the step to European football. His performances since then have seen his market value rise sharply over the past two seasons.

With four years remaining on his Trabzonspor contract, any potential transfer to Fulham would likely require a significant offer to persuade the Turkish club to part with one of their key defensive assets.