Leicester City and Turkish club Besiktas have finalised an agreement for the transfer of Nigerian international Wilfred Ndidi, ending a prolonged chase by the Istanbul-based side, Insight Media Sports Arena reported.
The deal is valued at €9.5 million, an increase from Besiktas’s earlier €7 million bid, which was turned down by the English Championship side earlier in the summer.
English football journalist Ben Jacobs confirmed that Ndidi has also reached personal terms with Besiktas, fending off interest from other European clubs, including Turkish rivals Fenerbahce.
According to Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, Ndidi has agreed to a three-year contract with Besiktas, with an option for a fourth year. With club-to-club negotiations now concluded, the 27-year-old is expected to travel to Istanbul shortly for medicals and to finalise the move.
Sports outlet Fanatik reported that the Nigerian midfielder has already received an invitation to Turkey to complete the final stages of the transfer.
Besiktas had initially struggled to meet Leicester’s valuation of the player, with their first offer of €7 million, to be paid in instalments over three years rejected. However, the club remained persistent, making Ndidi a top transfer priority after their early exit from the UEFA Europa League at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk.
Ndidi, who is entering the final year of his contract at the King Power Stadium, opted not to renew his deal following Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League. Since joining the Foxes in 2017, he has made over 240 appearances, earning a reputation as one of the Premier League’s top defensive midfielders.
In the 2023/24 season, he featured in 30 matches, scoring once and contributing five assists, a form that sparked interest from several clubs across Europe.
The move is seen as a major boost for Besiktas as they look to rebuild under new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Ndidi’s arrival is expected to significantly bolster their midfield as they prepare for domestic competition and possible European campaigns.
For Ndidi, the transfer marks a fresh chapter in his career, offering a new challenge in the Turkish Süper Lig and the opportunity to play a central role in Besiktas’s ambitions.
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