Besiktas has officially appointed Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi as their new vice-captain, following the completion of his transfer from Leicester City, as reported by Soccernet.ng.
The announcement was made official by the Turkish Süper Lig side on Friday through an official club statement.
Since joining the Istanbul-based team, 27-year-old Ndidi has quickly settled in, delivering steady and assured performances in midfield.
He has featured in five league matches and participated in two UEFA Conference League qualifiers, earning praise from supporters for his tactical awareness, tireless work rate, and composure during high-pressure moments.
Besiktas also revealed that Orkun Kökçü, currently on loan from Benfica and expected to join permanently next summer, has been named the team captain.
“Following a decision by our President Serdal Adalı and the Board of Directors, the captaincy of our Football A Team has been updated,” the club stated.
“Orkun Kökçü will serve as the primary captain, with Wilfred Ndidi appointed as vice-captain. We thank Necip Uysal and Mert Günok for their past leadership and wish our new captains success.”
Both Kökçü and Ndidi are expected to officially assume their leadership duties in Besiktas’ upcoming Süper Lig clash against Gençlerbirliği this Saturday.
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Wilfred Ndidi Steps Up as a Leader for Club and Country
Being entrusted with the vice-captaincy role represents a key advancement in Ndidi’s leadership path, both at Besiktas and within the Nigerian national team.
This promotion comes shortly after his transfer from Leicester City, where he spent seven influential seasons, playing a vital role in the club’s FA Cup and Community Shield victories.
Within the Super Eagles squad, Ndidi also holds a leadership role. With Ahmed Musa sidelined due to injury and club duties at Kano Pillars, William Troost-Ekong has recently captained Nigeria, with Ndidi frequently acting as his deputy.
Ndidi captained Nigeria during their emphatic 4-0 triumph over Benin in the final World Cup qualifying fixture on Tuesday, a match highlighted by Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick and a goal from Frank Onyeka.
He is expected to be a key figure again when the Super Eagles regroup for the African playoff round in Morocco next month. Nigeria will face Gabon on November 13, with the victor advancing to challenge either Cameroon or DR Congo for a place in the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico next year.