Wilfred Ndidi Profile: Club And International Career, Market Value

Wilfred Ndidi is a Nigerian football player born on December 16, 1996. He plays as a defensive midfielder for Leicester City, a team in the English Premier League, and also for the Nigeria national team.

In May 2019, he got married to his longtime girlfriend, Dinma Fortune, in Abuja, Nigeria. Besides playing football, Ndidi is also focused on his education.

In 2019, he started studying for a degree in Business and Management at De Montfort University. Ndidi’s hard work on the field and his dedication to his studies make him a remarkable person.

Wilfred Ndidi Club Career:

Wilfred Ndidi began his professional football career at Genk, a Belgian football club. On 14 January 2015, Genk and Nath Boys Academy agreed on a transfer deal for €180,000. The deal was completed the following day, on 15 January 2015.

Ndidi made his debut in the Belgian Pro League with Genk on 31 January 2015. In this match against Charleroi, Genk lost 1–0 away, Ndidi played for 74 minutes before being substituted for Jarne Vrijsen. Ndidi quickly became a key player for Genk.

One of his most memorable moments was during a Belgian League play-off game against Club Brugge, scoring a stunning long-range goal. After receiving the ball outside the penalty box from a clearance, Ndidi skillfully lofted the ball over an opposing player and then unleashed a powerful volley into the top right corner of the goal.

This goal was named the goal of the season in the Belgian league, and it was recorded to have traveled at over 111 km/h. On 3 December 2016, Genk agreed to a £17 million transfer deal with Leicester City, and It was confirmed on 5 January 2017.

Ndidi made his debut for Leicester City on 7 January 2017 in a 2–1 win against Everton during the third round of the FA Cup. His first Premier League start came a week later, on 14 January 2017, in a home game against Chelsea, which ended in a 3–0 defeat.

Ndidi quickly made a name for himself at Leicester City with his strong performances. On 8 February 2017, he scored his first goal for Leicester in an FA Cup game against Derby County.

Ndidi came on during the first half of extra time and scored with another long-range shot. Another notable performance was on 27 February 2017, when Leicester City won 3–1 against Liverpool.

In this match, Ndidi won 11 of his 14 tackles, a performance that was only bettered by Chelsea’s N’Golo Kanté, who made 14 tackles against Liverpool earlier in January. However, Ndidi also faced challenges.

On 16 December 2017, he was sent off for the first time in his career during Leicester’s 3–0 home defeat to Crystal Palace. In the 2019-20 season, Ndidi scored the opening goal for Leicester in a match against Chelsea on 18 August 2019.

However, the game ended in a draw. Ndidi started the 2020–21 season playing as a center-back in Leicester City’s opening game on 13 September 2020. The match ended with a 3–0 win away to West Bromwich Albion, and Ndidi helped keep a clean sheet.

Unfortunately, he suffered an adductor injury on 20 September 2020, which ruled him out for 6–12 weeks. He made his comeback on 3 December in a Europa League match against Zorya Luhansk.

On 19 January 2021, Ndidi scored his first goal of the season in a league match against Chelsea. Leicester City won the game 2–0, and this victory put Leicester at the top of the league table for a time.

Wilfred Ndidi International Career:

Wilfred Ndidi’s international football career began during his time with Nathaniel Boys of Lagos. He was part of the Nigerian youth setup and showed great promise early on. While playing in the African U-17 Championship with Nigeria, Ndidi faced a setback.

He, along with two other players, was excluded from the competition. This happened because an MRI age test suggested he was slightly above the allowed age limit. Despite this, Ndidi’s talent and determination were clear.

In the following year, Ndidi joined the Nigerian U-20 team. He became a key player, forming the backbone of the midfield. His performances caught the eye of the senior national team selectors, and on 8 October 2015, he was called up to the senior Nigeria national football team.

Ndidi made his debut in a friendly game against DR Congo. A few days later, he played again in a 3-0 win against Cameroon, coming on as a substitute for John Obi Mikel in the 63rd minute.

Ndidi’s rise in international football continued as he was selected for Nigeria’s 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Although he didn’t make the final squad, this selection highlighted his growing importance in the team.

In May 2018, Ndidi’s hard work paid off as he was named in Nigeria’s preliminary 30-man squad for the FIFA World Cup in Russia. This was a significant achievement in his career. A year later, he was included in the squad for the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

He played in Nigeria’s first match against Burundi, helping his team start the tournament on a strong note.

On 25 December 2021, Ndidi was chosen for Nigeria’s 28-man squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations by caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen.

His performances were impressive, and after the group stage, he was shortlisted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as the best team on the group stage as a substitute. This recognition placed him alongside stars like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané.

Continuing his international career, on 29 December 2023, Ndidi was named in the Nigerian squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Unfortunately, in early January 2024, he sustained an injury, which led to his replacement by Alhassan Yusuf.

Wilfred Ndidi Market Value:

Wilfred Ndidi’s current market value is €16.00 million as of May 24, 2024. Ndidi was once valued much higher, but over time, his market value has dropped.

This is a decrease from his highest market value of €60.00 million, which he reached on June 8, 2021 Such changes in market value can happen due to various factors like performance, injuries, or changes in the football market.

Wilfred Ndidi Honours:

Leicester City:

2020-2021 FA Cup
2021 FA Community Shield
2023/2024 EFL Championship

Ken Anucha

Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.