Super Eagles and Leicester City star Oyinye Wilfred Ndidi is arguably one of the best ever midfielders to come out of Nigeria.
Ndidi has made a name for himself in English football courtesy of his exploits at the King Power Stadium for Leicester and his reputation as one of the most dependable defensive midfielders in the English top-flight is firmly established.
In this article, Footynaija.com brings you all you need to know about the solid and reliable Nigerian midfielder.
Biography
Ndidi, born on December 16, 1996, in Lagos, Nigeria, was raised in a military barracks due to his father’s career as an Army officer. Despite his parents’ early objections to his football dreams, something he’s spoken about in interviews, Ndidi pursued the sport from a young age, starting at Nigerian academy Nath Boys, where his talent quickly drew international attention.
This led to a move to Belgian side KRC Genk, who signed the then-18-year-old for €180,000 on January 14, 2015. Upon making the big switch to Europe, Ndidi was taken in by Belgian couple Theo and Marleen van Vlierden. They provided the then youngster with a home and support during his entire stay in Belgium.
Following an impressive two-year stint in the Belgian Pro League, he earned a big move to the Premier League with then champions Leicester City securing his services for a fee in the region of £17 million in the 2017 winter window.
Stats
Ndidi has played for just two clubs (Genk and Leicester City) all through his professional career. During his time at Genk, the Nigeria international made 83 appearances with seven goals to his name.
At his current club Leicester City, he has made 296 appearances (at the time of writing) and scored 18 goals. The 28-year-old has also earned an impressive 52 caps for the Super Eagles but he has yet to find the back of the net.
Ndidi’s Salary
Ndidi is one of the highest earning players at Leicester City, with just three groups of earners; Jamie Vardy (140,000); Odsonne Edouard and Harry Winks (90,000); Ricardo Pereira and Boubakary Soumare (85,000), commanding a higher weekly pay packet than the Nigerian midfielder.
According to Capology, Ndidi’s current salary at the King Power Stadium stands at €75,000 per week. His €75,000 weekly wages add up to €300,000 monthly and then stack up to €3,600,000 in yearly earnings.
Net Worth and Market Value
Ndidi isn’t just a powerhouse on the pitch, he’s also one of the wealthiest Nigerian footballers, boasting an impressive net worth of around €34 million, according to Capology. Off the field, his bank account gets a boost from a handful of lucrative endorsement deals as well.
The Leicester man has a market value €18,000,000 according to TransferMarkt as at December 2024, while Football Transfers values the energetic midfielder at just over €20,000,000.
Ndidi’s Wife and Child
Asides being the dominant destroyer we usually see on the pitch, Ndidi is also a devoted husband and loving father to his daughter. The Leicester midfield general’s wife Dinma Fortune is a medical professional and entrepreneur.
Ndidi and Dinma dated for quite a while before finally deciding to tie the knot in May 2019 at an Abuja wedding. A year after their marriage, they welcomed the birth of their baby girl Jaina, with the couple often sharing her photos on social media.
Ndidi Transfer News
Ndidi has been linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium by numerous reports from several media outlets in the past year. There were speculations about interests from Galatasaray, Marseille and Lyon last year.
In more recent development, Monaco were thought to be eyeing a move for the Super Eagles midfielder during the winter transfer window. Footynaija.com has also reported interest from La Liga sides Atletico Madrid and Real Betis in the past.
With Leicester’s chances of staving off relegation looking incredibly slim with each passing game week, the Foxes look set for a return to the Championship. If that happens, Ndidi will most likely push for an exit in the summer.
FC 25 Ratings
According to EA SPORTS FC™ 25 player ratings, Nididi’s overall is 78. While his attacking attributes are average at best, the 28-year-old excels with his defensive abilities. Below are some of his key defensive stats.
Defending 75 Physicality 80
Interceptions 75 Jumping 78
Heading Accuracy 71 Stamina 81
Def Awareness 76 Strength 78
Standing Tackle 76 Aggression 85
Sliding Tackle 74