Super Eagles midfield enforcer Wilfred Onyinye Ndidi has officially completed his medical in Istanbul, paving the way for his move to Turkish powerhouse Beşiktaş JK after a standout eight-year run with Leicester City.
Beşiktaş confirmed their agreement with Leicester on a €9.5 million transfer fee, securing Ndidi on a three-year deal with an option for a fourth year. The 28‑year‑old defensive midfielder arrived in Istanbul early Thursday aboard a private jet dispatched by the club to usher in the final formalities.
The official statement, published via Beşiktaş’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), detailed that both the fee agreement with Leicester and personal terms with Ndidi had been finalized, prompting the club to invite him to Turkey to complete the process in person.
Contract & Competition
According to multiple reports— notably from Bold Sports, SportFlames, OneFootball, and Linda Ikeji Blog—Ndidi has sealed a three‑year contract with an optional fourth year, agreeing to a salary rumored to be close to €4 million per annum . Despite interest from several notable European suitors—including Real Betis, Valencia, Everton, and Fenerbahçe under José Mourinho—Ndidi opted to join Beşiktaş, citing the club’s ambition and the vision under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær as decisive factors.
Ndidi’s Impact: Experience, Stability, Leadership
Ndidi departs Leicester as one of the club’s most enduring figures. Since joining in January 2017 from Belgian side Genk, he made 303 appearances across all competitions, contributed 18 goals and 22 assists, featured in their legendary 2021 FA Cup victory, and lifted the Community Shield and Championship title . During the 2024–25 campaign, he clocked in 30 appearances, scoring once and providing five assists.
Beşiktaş—who ended last season fourth in the Turkish Süper Lig and crashed early out of Europa League qualification—see Ndidi as the midfield pivot to revitalize their title push and inject solidity into the engine room.
Nigerian Presence in Turkey Strengthens
Ndidi’s arrival in Istanbul continues a notable summer wave of Nigerian talents heading to Türkiye. Earlier this summer, Victor Osimhen joined Galatasaray, Paul Onuachu moved to Trabzonspor, and Henry Onyekuru signed for Gençlerbirliği, embedding a growing Super Eagles footprint in the Turkish top flight.
Final Word
With the medical now complete, all that remains is the formal unveiling. Ndidi’s switch to Beşiktaş not only ends a storied chapter in England but also opens an exciting new era—where his trademark tenacity and defensive mastery will be central to Solskjær’s ambitions at Vodafone Park.
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