Due to Leicester City’s relegation to the Championship, many players have seen linked with moves away this summer. One of which is Wilfred Ndidi, who arrived in the East Midlands back in 2017 to aid City’s campaign in the Champions League. Since then, he has made major contributions to the Community Shield, FA Cup, and Championship success. With the season just days away, it’s no surprise that the Nigerian international has departed.
Leicester City Confirm Departure of Star Days Before Season Opener
Wilfred Ndidi: Move Complete
As confirmed by the club, Ndidi has completed his move to Besiktas. The Turkish side have already kick-started their campaign with European qualification games versus Shakhtar Donetsk and St. Patrick’s Athletic. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is currently at the helm, and will have remembered his new arrival from performances against his Manchester United side.
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Owynn Palmer Atkin has also reported that Besiktas met the release clause, which was active following relegation from the Premier League. The deal, worth €9 million, seems brilliant value for the Turkish giants, especially due to the player’s age and attributes.
This marks the second exit from the club this summer, with Conor Coady’s switch to Wrexham being the first. With almost £10 million grossed from the two sales, City should become more active in regards to arrivals. Richard Kone remains a target to lead the line, even more so after a change to his valuation.
How Does This Affect Leicester City
Having been at the club for nine seasons, Ndidi has been an integral part of the last decade’s success. He was the last remaining player from Claudio Ranieri’s Champions League underdogs, as he featured in both legs versus Atletico Madrid.
In addition, the midfielder also stood out during Brendan Rodgers’ stint as manager. The back-to-back top five finishes and FA Cup win simultaneously saw Ndidi become an elite midfielder.
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Although the quality has since dropped, in more recent seasons, he has become more attacking and well-rounded. Therefore, losing a player with this experience isn’t ideal. Oliver Skipp, Harry Winks, and Boubakary Soumaré now make up the midfield options, which suggests a replacement is necessary.
Free agent Josh Brownhill offers a profile that suits the Foxes, especially after an 18-goal season with Burnley. However, the height and athleticism of Ndidi also needs to be replaced, as he is imposing both in the penalty area and when breaking up play. Time will only tell whether Marti Cifuentes’ side will be able to find the right fit, but academy graduate Louis Page may also emerge as an option in the box-to-box role this season.
