Wilfred Ndidi: Besiktas midfielder linked with summer move to Al-Ittihad

Wilfred Ndidi, the Nigeria international midfielder currently at Besiktas, has been linked with a summer move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad. The 29-year-old defensive midfielder is under contract with the Istanbul club until 30 June 2028 but has emerged as a potential target for the Jeddah outfit as they look to strengthen in the centre of the pitch.

Ndidi joined Besiktas from Leicester City on 7 August 2025 in a deal worth €8m, arriving in Turkiye after nearly a decade in Europe. His current market valuation is around €8m, a figure likely to frame any negotiations between the clubs if Al-Ittihad decide to formalise their interest.

The Lagos-born midfielder has yet to feature in this season’s UEFA Europa League qualifying campaign for Besiktas, with no appearances recorded in the early stages. Even so, his profile remains high after a decorated spell in England, where he helped Leicester win the FA Cup in 2021.

Ndidi, who stands at 1.83m and operates primarily as a defensive midfielder, holds both Nigerian and English nationality and wears the number 4 shirt for Besiktas. He moved to Leicester from Genk in January 2017 before establishing himself in the Premier League and later playing a role in Leicester’s 2023–24 Championship title win.

With three years remaining on his Besiktas deal, any move to Al-Ittihad would require an agreement between the clubs rather than a pre-contract arrangement, and for now the midfielder remains tied to the Turkish Super Lig side.