By Wale Mustapha
Nigeria international and Super Eagles vice-captain Wilfred Ndidi has expressed his ambition to help Besiktas win trophies after completing a permanent move to the Turkish club.
The 28-year-old midfielder arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday night to finalize his transfer from English Championship side Leicester City.
He successfully underwent a medical and signed a three-year contract with the Black Eagles, with an option for a fourth year.
Ndidi joins a Besiktas side now under the management of former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Speaking to the club’s official website following his arrival, the midfielder shared his excitement and optimism for the upcoming season.
“It’s really amazing. This is my second time in Turkey, and I feel great. Joining Besiktas is a big step for me,” Ndidi said.
“I want the fans to enjoy the season. We’ll see what comes out of it, but I’ll do my best to help the team win as many games as possible. The more matches we win, the closer we get to winning silverware.”
Ndidi spent seven years at Leicester City, where he made over 240 appearances and was part of the squad that won the FA Cup in 2021.
His move to Besiktas marks a new chapter in his career, as he looks to bring experience and leadership to the Istanbul-based club.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.
