Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi secured a permanent switch to Turkish giants Besiktas after eight and a half years at English side Leicester City. The 28-year-old made over 300 appearances for the Foxes, who are set to receive about €9.5 million, across spells in the English Premier League and the EFL Championship.
With a wealth of experience from his stint in England, Ndidi is expected to make a significant impact in the Turkish league. Here are four reasons the Nigerian midfielder will thrive at the Black Eagles.
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Physicality and defensive awareness
At 6ft tall, Wilfred Ndidi is a very dominant figure in the midfield, providing excellent ball recovery and protection for the backline. The Nigerian midfielder also excels at winning interceptions and tackles for his side. He topped the charts for most tackles made in the 2017-18 season (138), 2018-19 (142) and 2019-20 (129), in the English Premier League and has the most tackles in the league since his debut in 2017.
His ability to win possession for his team and break down opposition attack will be key to how Besiktas play, as they will hope to improve on their defensive display that saw them concede 36 goals in the league last season.
Wealth of Experience
Wilfred Ndidi brings a wealth of experience to Turkey, having spent over ten years playing at the top level with spells across Belgium with Genk and England with Leicester City. The Nigerian midfielder commands the backline well and will be very influential if Besiktas are to win a first league title since the 2020/21 season.
With an average squad age of 26.5, the Black Eagles’ will benefit from the Super Eagles star’s leadership skills and vast experience.
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Ndidi’s Versatility
Known for his defensive midfield prowess, Wilfred Ndidi also offers different options as he can also play as a central midfielder, fullback and also as a center-back.
The 28-year-old has been previously deployed by Brendan Rodgers as a center-back during their time together at Leicester City, while he also featured in the central midfield role in the Foxes’ English Premier League campaign last season.
Ndidi’s capacity to play multiple roles makes him an important player for Besiktas, providing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with several options to fit different tactics.
Passing ability
Ndidi’s passing ability is a impressive, as he consistently finds his teammates with precise short passes.
He also impresses at providing long diagonal balls to switch attack and create scoring opportunities for his team.
