From Israeli Youth League to Romania's Top Scorer: Kwadoor Taiwo's Rise

Kwadoor Taiwo, a 20-year-old Nigerian forward who previously played for the youth team of Bnei Sakhnin in Israel, has emerged as the top scorer in Romania's second division. After his loan spell in Israel concluded without a senior team call-up, Taiwo returned to Nigeria, where he impressed during tryouts with Universitatea Cluj. He was subsequently invited to Romania for a trial, scoring a hat-trick in a preparatory match. Cluj signed him on October 14, 2025.

Taiwo's journey to professional football was challenging, marked by a difficult childhood in Nigeria and a significant personal adjustment to moving to Europe alone. Despite his immediate impact in trial matches, his early career in Romania was hampered by visa issues and registration delays, preventing him from playing in the top league for Cluj. He made only one senior appearance for Cluj in January 2026 before being loaned to CSM Resita in the second division, where he failed to register a single official game.

In July 2026, Taiwo was loaned to newly promoted second-division side Popesti-Leordeni, where his career took off. Initially coming off the bench, he consistently scored, netting five goals in his first four appearances without starting a single game. His breakthrough came in a match against his former loan club, Resita, where he scored a hat-trick in under 40 minutes, securing a 4-1 victory. This performance led to his inclusion in the second division's team of the month for August.

Taiwo's scoring form continued, earning him a starting spot and a brace in early September, bringing his tally to seven goals. By the end of eight games, he had scored nine goals, becoming the league's top scorer. This remarkable achievement, especially for a player who was in Israel's youth league just two years prior, highlights his rapid ascent and potential.