Okoli's agent says Leicester City ready to let defender leave
Quick summary
The agent of Caleb Okoli has publicly stated that Leicester City understand the Italian defender's ambitions and are prepared to let him depart, suggesting a potential transfer away from the Championship club.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceItaly international Caleb Okoli is linked with Monza and Torino, as his agent confirms ‘Leicester City understand his ambition to play in a more important league.’
A product of the Atalanta youth academy, he was sold to Leicester City in the summer of 2024 for €14m plus add-ons.
Caleb Okoli of Leicester City appears dejected after Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United (not pictured) scores their team’s second goal during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on October 30, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) The central defender was unable to prevent Leicester City’s relegation into League One, the English equivalent of Serie C, so with that in mind, he is looking for a move back to Italy.
Okoli looking for Serie A return Caleb Okoli of Italy in action during a Italy training session at Bozsik Stadion on September 08, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) “We are waiting for Leicester to get back to us,” confessed agent Alessandro Barison to Tuttomercatoweb.
“Some calls and proposals have already arrived. We’ve got to figure out the best way forward for him and the club, so we are evaluating the situation.
“Caleb is happy at Leicester, but also will not deny he wants to play in a more important league, and Leicester City understand that ambition. They know he deserves a different journey and are ready to let him leave, whether it is on loan or a permanent sale.”
There has been some interest from Serie A, with Torino and newly promoted Monza ready to swoop for the defender.
“Without naming names, I can say we are looking for a project like this which can give Caleb the opportunity to get back to the level where he belongs. We also need the proposals to satisfy Leicester, who did after all make an investment on him.”
Okoli celebrates his 25 th birthday later this month and is under contract with the Foxes until June 2029.
He has been in the senior Italy squad , but is yet to receive his first cap for the Azzurri at that level, having been a regular for the Under-21 side with 14 appearances.
His previous clubs on loan include SPAL, Cremonese and Frosinone.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Caleb Okoli, the Italian centre-back signed by Leicester City from Atalanta, could be on his way out of the club. His agent has publicly indicated that Leicester understand Okoli's desire for more playing time or a higher level of competition, and that the Foxes are open to allowing a transfer. Okoli has struggled for regular minutes at Leicester, and with the club in the Championship, a move—potentially back to Serie A—is being explored. The agent's comments signal both the player's intent and the club's willingness to negotiate.
Chance analysis
From a soccer intelligence perspective, this is a mid-level transfer story involving a young Italian defender who hasn't established himself in the Premier League/Championship setup. If Okoli departs, Leicester lose depth in central defense, though his limited playing time suggests the impact is manageable. For potential Serie A suitors, Okoli represents a promising profile with prior Atalanta pedigree. The story's credibility rests on agent statements, which are typically semi-official but also serve as negotiation leverage.
Likely departure of Okoli would reduce Leicester's central defensive depth, while a potential buying club gains a young Italian international-caliber defender.
Monitor Okoli's transfer status as it may affect Leicester City's defensive squad planning and could lead to a Serie A move.