Premier League champions Leicester City have finalised a £15m deal for Genk defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi. The young Nigerian will join the club after completing a medical for the Foxes.
The 19-year old will officially be announced as a Leicester player once the transfer window opens subject to being granted a work permit. Ndidi has agreed to a five-year deal and has been identified as a long-term replacement for N’Golo Kante who was sold to Chelsea earlier in the summer.
Wilfred Ndidi moved from Nathaniel Boys of Lagos to Genk after he impressed during a trial and made his first appearance for the club in January 2015 as a centre back. He is known for his versatility as he can also play as a right-back but he has finally settled well as a defensive midfielder and has two senior caps for his country.
Ever since the departure of N’Golo Kante to Chelsea, there has been a huge void in the midfield department of the reigning champions. They have been carved open repeatedly. Kante was a key figure for the Foxes and his exit saw the arrival of Nampalys Mendy from Nice during the summer window.
But a number of recurring injuries mean the player has failed to make any sort of impact on the club till now. Claudio Ranieri and the board then realised the need for midfield reinforcements as he plunged into the transfer market and decided to go for the Genk midfielder. The £15m deal includes £3.5m in add-ons if he makes a set number of appearances for the current English champions.
The emergence of Ndidi was spotted by Manchester United’s Belgium scout Roland Janssen at a youth tournament in 2013. United were said to be interested in signing him but it was Leicester who won the race to secure his services.
The Leicester boss hopes the arrival of the midfielder can solve his side’s midfield crisis and add more stability in the centre of the park. Ndidi has a strong presence and holds the ball well and being just 19 years of age, getting regular game time at the highest level such as the Premier League can certainly improve him as a player. The Nigerian has all the necessary attributes to adapt to the pace of the English game and is good at breaking up play and recycling possession.
Leicester have made a mess of defending their title till now but there is hope that they can claw their way back up and at least finish in the top half of the table.
