The summer is set to be an interesting one for Wilfred Ndidi, whose future remains shrouded in uncertainty. The 27-year-old’s contract with Leicester City is set to expire at the end of the season, and it is increasingly looking like he will depart the King Power Stadium.
Ndidi joined the Foxes in 2017 from Belgian side Genk, and has been a key player during his seven years in England. Bought to be a direct replacement for N’Golo Kante, who had swapped Leicester City for Chelsea, the Nigerian has so far done his best to fill that void.
He has been part of the club’s most successful era in recent years, having won the Community Shield and FA Cup with the Foxes. Ndidi also proved his dedication when he decided to stay after the club was relegated from the Premier League in the 2022/23 season.
The Nigeria international has continued to be an important player for Enzo Maresca’s side in the Championship, where he has assumed a more attacking role under the Italian manager. It’s no surprise that Ndidi’s injury midway through the season coincided with Leicester's decline in form, with the club even losing their position at the top of the Championship table.
Premier League clubs queue for Wilfred Ndidi
Since his return from injury, however, the Foxes have returned to form and have now sealed automatic promotion to the Premier League following rivals Leeds United’s defeat to Queens Park Rangers on Friday.
While Leicester’s promotion is unlikely to change much over Ndidi’s future, as the club will be looking to balance their books ahead of their return to the Premier League, it also opens the doors for the midfielder to seek a new adventure on a free transfer.
The 27-year-old has been linked to several clubs in Europe, including Barcelona and Galatasaray. However, the Super Eagles player is said to favour a return to the Premier League, as per Football Leagues World, with Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Brentford and Aston Villa all reportedly keen on signing him.
Should he decide to join any of the aforementioned Premier League clubs, there are both positives and negatives that could define how his career is shaped over the next few years.
Below, Afrik Foot takes a look at the pros and cons of Ndidi’s potential move to each of the aforementioned clubs.
Aston Villa
Pros: Should Ndidi move to Aston Villa, the biggest attraction is that he will likely play in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Unai Emery has built a solid team that currently occupies the fourth position in the Premier League. Considering they are six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, it would take a major capitulation for The Villans to miss out on a top-four place with just four matches left.
Cons: Ndidi won’t be guaranteed a starting spot at Aston Villa. The Lions are spoilt for options in the middle of the park, where John McGuinn and Douglas Luiz have nailed down the starting spots. The competition for places is so tight that Youri Tielemans, Ndidi’s former teammate at Leicester, has to make do with a role as a substitute. There are also Emiliano Buendia, Nicolo Zaniolo and Jacob Ramsey who are yet to return from injury, and that could mean limited game time for Ndidi should he join Aston Villa.
Newcastle United
Pros: European football is not guaranteed for Newcastle United, but there might be a place for Ndidi in their midfield. Bruno Guimaraes is the only untouchable in Eddie Howe’s midfield set-up, and Ndidi’s recent switch from a purely defensive midfielder to a more advanced role could suit the Magpies’ 4-3-3 formation.
Cons: Newcastle have natural box-to-box midfielders and once Sandro Tonali returns from his ban, he will likely be favoured ahead of Ndidi. In that case, the Nigerian would have to compete with Guimaraes for the defensive midfield role, and that is a battle he is unlikely to win.
Brentford
Pros: If gaining enough playing time is the priority, then Ndidi should be considering Brentford as a serious option. The Bees have flirted with relegation this season, but they look set to survive and currently do not have better midfield options than Ndidi. The Nigeria international will definitively be an undisputed starter if his competition is Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen, and he is arguably an upgrade on his compatriot Frank Onyeka.
Cons: After spending seven years at Leicester, where he won the FA Cup and helped the Foxes to regain promotion to the Premier League, it is only fair that Ndidi targets a club of a higher profile. Currently, Brentford are only good enough for a mid-table finish, and are unlikely to challenge for a European spot anytime soon. For a player who’s approaching 28 and already in his prime, Ndidi should be aiming higher.
Crystal Palace
Pros: Like Brentford, Ndidi will readily command a starting position at Crystal Palace, whose midfield options aren’t great.
Cons: The Eagles are serial relegation battlers, and have only marginally beat the drop in the last few seasons. They are also very unstable, especially when it comes to chopping and changing managers, and that won’t be good for Ndidi, as he could be favoured by one manager and dropped the moment there’s a change in the dugout.
