Nigerian star invited by Italy pleased with Premier League debut in Leicester’s loss to Aston Villa

Caleb Okoli has shared his delight at making his long-awaited Premier League debut with Leicester City on Saturday in a challenging 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 23-year-old centre-back, who recently joined Leicester from Atalanta for a reported £12 million, was handed his first league start by manager Steve Cooper, stepping in alongside Wout Faes after impressing in the Carabao Cup.

Despite the defeat, Okoli’s performance showed why the East Midlands were keen to secure his services.

The Italian-Nigerian defender made significant contributions, recording five clearances, three tackles, a block, and an interception during the match.

His composure on the ball was evident, completing 91% of his 68 attempted passes, a key factor in Leicester’s defensive solidity.

Reflecting on his debut, Okoli shared his mixed emotions with Leicester City’s official website.

“It was an incredible feeling and an incredible debut. I’m very happy to make it here at King Power Stadium with all my teammates. I’m very happy, but also disappointed for the result. It was everything I expected [from the Premier League],” he said.

The Foxes may be winless after three matches, but Okoli’s debut offers hope for Leicester fans as the club looks to bounce back after the international break.

With his strong showing against a formidable Aston Villa side, Okoli is poised to retain his starting role when Leicester faces Crystal Palace in their next fixture.

NEWS

Young Leicester defender Caleb Okoli has been called up to the Italian national team for the first time ever #lcfc pic.twitter.com/zpiYgyZkjF— Lcfc.Zoone (@lcfc_zoone) August 30, 2024

While Okoli has long been on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation, he is set to represent Italy during the upcoming international break, having received his first call-up from Italy manager Luciano Spalletti.

Okoli’s dual eligibility makes him the latest Nigerian-Italian talent to emerge on the international stage, following in the footsteps of Napoli’s Michael Folorunsho and Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie.

With young prospects like Luca Koleosho and Michael Kayode also receiving call-ups for Italy’s U21 squad, Okoli’s debut signals a promising future for players of Nigerian descent in Italian football.