Awaziem Returns to Ligue 1 with Three‑Year FC Nantes Deal Chidozie Awaziem, 28, has inked a three‑year contract with French Ligue 1 side FC Nantes, marking his return to the Canaries after earlier featuring for the club during the 2017–18 season. The Nigerian centre‑back joins from Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids, where he started all 20 matches this season and recorded one assist in a 3–2 win over San Diego FC on 12 April. Previously, he also spent part of 2024 with FC Cincinnati, notching two assists over seven appearances. This move reunites Awaziem with a club he’s familiar with he spent a loan spell at Nantes in 2017–18, featuring in 22 league games and scoring once. His journey since then has taken in spells across Europe, including stints in Turkey, Spain, Croatia and Portugal, before heading to the US. Nantes president expressed delight at securing a defender of Awaziem’s experience ahead of the upcoming season, especially following the departure of key players. The central defe. Editorial view Awaziem’s return to FC Nantes as a masterstroke in strategic squad rebuilding. Retaining a player who already understands the club’s ethos offers both continuity and leadership at the heart of defence. We believe that a three‑year deal demonstrates Nantes’ confidence in Awaziem’s maturity and reliability. His wealth of experience from Europe to MLS — shows adaptability and resilience, qualities indispensable for a team seeking stability. We observe that central defence demands consistency more than flair, and Awaziem’s playing style aligns precisely with that requirement. After season-long involvement in Colorado, he comes battle-ready to chip in with organisation, aerial presence and forward progression. We expect this transfer to energise the dressing room.