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Leicester Close To Signing Nigerian Defender

completesports.com 2 days ago

Leicester Close To Signing Nigerian Defender

Leicester City are set to agree a deal to sign Atalanta Italian-born Nigerian defender Caleb Okoli.

This is according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano on his X handle on Thursday.

Romano revealed also that Okoli has also agreed on personal terms with Leicester City as €15m package deal will be completed.

If the deal goes through, Okoli will be Leicester new manager Steve Cooper’s first signing.

Cooper was appointed Leicester City’s new coach following Enzo Maresca’s move to Chelsea.

The Foxes are back in the Premier League after clinching the Championship title last season.

Last season Okoli was on loan to Frosinone, and featured in 34 matches and provided one assist.

Born in Italy, Okoli who is Igbo and Yoruba by descent, made his debut with the Italy U-21 team on 7 September 2021, playing as a starter in the qualifying match won 1–0 against Montenegro.

The 22-year-old joined the youth teams of Atalanta in the summer of 2015 and started playing for their U-19 squad in the 2018–19 season.

He was occasionally called up to Atalanta’s senior team in that season and the next, but never appeared on the pitch. He also represented the club in the 2019–20 UEFA Youth League.

On 25 September 2020, he joined Serie B club SPAL on loan and made his debut for the club on 21 November 2020 in a game against Pescara. He moved to another Serie B club Cremonese on 12 July 2021, on a season-long loan.

He returned to Atalanta in July 2022, after his loan ended, and was integrated into Atalanta’s first team for the following season, and made his Serie A debut with on 13 August 2022 in a 2–0 victory over Sampdoria.

At international level, Okoli was first called up to represent Italy in 2019 with the Italy U-19 side.

He made his debut with the Italy U-21 team on 7 September 2021, playing as a starter in the qualifying match won 1–0 against Montenegro.

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