Leicester City have further strengthened their squad with the signing of Atalanta BC defender Caleb Okoli.
Prior to June 30, the focus of the Foxes hierarchy was ensuring that they did not commit any breaches of the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.
With three notable players departing on free transfers ahead of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's £30m move to Chelsea, the East Midlands outfit seemingly achieved that goal.
However, they have since been proactive in the market, with the acquisition of Okoli following the arrivals of Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Michael Golding.
While the official fee is undisclosed, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Leicester have paid a €15m (£12.7m).
Your latest Fox 👀 pic.twitter.com/RTybu1oYK2
— Leicester City (@LCFC) July 9, 2024
"It is the right opportunity"
Okoli moves to the King Power Stadium on a five-year contract, indicating that he feels that now is the right time to test himself in England's top flight.
The 22-year-old the Foxes Hub, part of the club's official website: "I think now is the right moment [for me] to make a step forward and a very big one.
"I'm very happy with the choice I made, so I'm very excited to start in the Premier League. Now I'm here in Leicester I'm feeling ready to start with my new team.
"It was the right opportunity and it's very important for me. The Premier League is the best league in the world. Leicester is a beautiful club, an important club and the two combined together, so I took this opportunity to come and express myself in the Premier League."
© Reuters
Will Okoli command a starting role?
On the face of it, the signing of Okoli could prove to be one of the most significant in recent seasons for Leicester given that he has already accumulated over 50 appearances in Serie A.
Okoli also has 14 caps for Italy Under-21s, although he suffered disappointment last season having played a part in Frosinone's relegation campaign.
A total of 17 outings were made for Atalanta, all of which came in domestic action, and he now has the challenge of trying to become a favourite of Steve Cooper.
Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard - who have represented Belgium and Denmark at Euro 2024 - appear to be in front of him in the pecking order at this stage.
