Crystal Palace are considering a move for Nigerian centre-back Chibuike Nwaiwu, who is currently under contract at Trabzonspor until 2030. The Premier League club have been linked with the 23-year-old as they assess defensive options ahead of the new season.
Nwaiwu joined Trabzonspor in January 2026 and has quickly established himself in the Turkish side’s back line. Standing at 1.93m and operating primarily as a right-footed central defender, he has attracted interest following his performances in the Super Lig and domestic cup competitions.
Any deal is likely to be complicated by Nwaiwu’s long-term contract in Trabzon, as well as his growing status at the club. He is currently valued at around €10 million, a figure that would provide a starting point for any negotiations and underlines Trabzonspor’s strong position.
Born in Port Harcourt in July 2003, Nwaiwu has already collected silverware early in his career. He was part of the Trabzonspor squad that lifted the Turkish Cup in the 2025-26 campaign, adding to a domestic league title in Nigeria with Enyimba Aba in 2022-23 and an Austrian Cup win with Wolfsberger AC in 2024-25.
Palace are yet to progress talks and no formal bid has been lodged, but the London club are monitoring the situation closely. For now, Nwaiwu remains tied to Trabzonspor on a deal running to June 2030, leaving the Turkish side under no pressure to sell.
