Leicester City of England defender, Memeh Caleb Okoli has gained summer transfer attention from Bologna of Italy, with huge expectations that he could be on his way back to the Serie A ahead of next season.
Sports247 reports that it would be a huge relief for Okoli, who was part of Leicester’s squad that endured a torrid season and eventually imploded into relegation to the third-cadre English League One this week.
Rather than follow The Foxes down to League One, Okoli has received a huge escape route, as Bologna are keen on luring him back to the Italian Serie A, where he previously played for Vicenza, Atalanta, SPAL, Cremonese and Frosinone.
He made his Serie B debut for SPAL on November 21st, 2020 in a game against Pescara. Okoli started and played the full game in a 2-0 victory, then got his first career goal on April 10th, 2021 in a Serie B game against Leece.
Though he was born to Nigerian parents in Italy, Okoli opted to commit his international future to the country of his birth and got his first invitation in 2019 to their under-19 side, then later debuted for the U21 team on September 7th, 2021.
He was called up to Italy’s senior squad for 2024/25 UEFA Nations League games against France and Israel on 6th and 9th September 2024, a week after he got his debut for Leicester on September 1st, 2024 in a 2-1 home defeat by Aston Villa.
Okoli could now become the latest player of Nigerian descent to feature for Bologna, who previously had Stephen Ayodele Makinwa, Orji Okwonkwo, Umar Sadiq, Kingsley Michael, Jero Shakpoke, Wisdom Amey and Kingsley Umunegbu on their roster.
A report by Sportsboom added, “There are no shortage of suitors for the former Italy U21 international, with Torino, Bologna and even AC Milan interested. Bologna have made the firmest approach to prising away Okoli.
“Though Milan have made discreet enquiries and, despite his deal running to 2030, Okoli doesn’t expect Leicester to block him from returning home to Italy over the summer.”
