Fulham told to pay record fee as Trabzonspor dig in over Chibuike Nwaiwu

Trabzonspor are standing firm in their determination to keep Nigerian defender Chibuike Nwaiwu despite increasing interest from Premier League club Fulham ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The Turkish Super Lig side view the 22-year-old centre-back as a key figure in their long-term plans and are unwilling to sanction his departure unless an extraordinary offer arrives.

Nwaiwu joined Trabzonspor from Austrian club Wolfsberger AC in January for a reported €5.5 million and wasted little time establishing himself as one of the team’s most dependable performers.

His impressive displays at the heart of the defence played an important role in the Black Sea Storm’s successful Turkish Cup campaign, further enhancing his reputation across Europe.

Those performances have not gone unnoticed, with Fulham emerging as one of the clubs closely tracking the Nigeria international. Reports suggest the London side are prepared to spend around €20 million in an attempt to lure him to the Premier League this summer.

However, Trabzonspor are refusing to be tempted by the prospect of a significant profit only months after signing the defender. According to Turkish outlet Takagazete, the club have no intention of selling Nwaiwu during the current transfer window.

The report adds that Trabzonspor would only consider offers that surpass the highest transfer fee received in the club’s history, a stance that underlines how highly they rate the former Enyimba defender.

Such a valuation presents a major obstacle for Fulham, who may now have to substantially increase their bid if they hope to test Trabzonspor’s resolve. The Turkish side are eager to build on last season’s success and believe Nwaiwu will be central to their ambitions both domestically and in European competition.

For Nwaiwu, the growing attention from England is further evidence of his rapid rise. Having moved from Nigeria to Austria before making the switch to Turkey earlier this year, the young defender has continued to develop at an impressive rate and is increasingly being viewed as one of the most promising African defenders in European football.

With the transfer window gathering momentum, Fulham’s interest is unlikely to disappear. Yet Trabzonspor’s message is clear: any club hoping to prise Nwaiwu away will have to break records to do so.