By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce have made the first official move to sign Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, initiating direct contact with the Nigerian international’s representatives as competition for his signature intensifies.
According to Turkish outlet Fotomac, the Istanbul club has begun negotiations through licensed agent Muzzi Özcan, with club president Ali Koç reportedly playing an active role in the discussions, stressing Fenerbahce’s serious intent to bring Ndidi to the Süper Lig.
The 27-year-old is understood to be reluctant to remain in the English Championship following Leicester City’s relegation and is open to a move abroad.
Ndidi recently signed a short-term extension with the Foxes, which includes a clause allowing him to leave for a reduced fee—believed to be around £9 million.
While no official fee has been agreed upon, Leicester are reportedly holding out for around €11 million as they seek to recoup part of the €17.6 million they paid Belgian club Genk for Ndidi’s services in January 2017.
Fenerbahce’s early approach gives them a potential edge over other suitors, with the player’s future expected to be resolved in the coming weeks.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
