Caleb Okoli transfer: Cagliari weigh move for Leicester and Italy-Nigeria defender

Caleb Okoli, the Italy-Nigeria defender at Leicester, has been linked with a move to Cagliari in Serie A.

The 25-year-old centre-back joined Leicester from Atalanta in July 2024 in a deal worth €14m and remains under contract with the club until 30 June 2029. Any potential transfer would therefore involve Leicester agreeing terms for a player who is not approaching the end of his current deal.

Okoli has started all three of Leicester’s matches so far this season, scoring once in the EFL Cup and making two League One appearances. Leicester are competing in League One during the 2026-27 campaign, while Cagliari are preparing for another season in Italy’s top flight.

The defender began his senior career with a series of loan spells away from Atalanta, including periods with SPAL, Cremonese and Frosinone, before returning to the Bergamo club and moving permanently to Leicester. He was twice an Italian Primavera champion with Atalanta’s youth side, in 2019 and 2020.

His current market value is listed at €9m, below the €14m Leicester paid for him two years ago. The reported interest from Cagliari remains at rumour stage, with Okoli currently part of Leicester’s squad and contracted to the club for three more seasons.