Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been handed the vice captaincy role at Turkish giants Beşiktaş, barely two months after joining the club from Leicester City, Footynaija.com reports.
The announcement came as a surprise to many fans who did not expect the Nigerian to rise this fast at a club packed with senior players. But within weeks of arriving in Istanbul, Ndidi’s influence both on and off the pitch has impressed the Beşiktaş hierarchy enough to earn him a leadership role.
Ndidi joined Beşiktaş in early August 2025, and has since featured in several league games and UEFA Conference League qualifiers. He has become a leader in the dressing room, guiding younger teammates and helping the team maintain discipline during games.
The club confirmed the new leadership structure through an official announcement, as reported by The Guardian Nigeria.
“With the decision of our President Serdal Adalı and our Board of Directors, a change has been made regarding the captaincy of our Football A Team,” the statement read.
The update also confirmed that Orkun Kökçü will serve as the club’s captain, while Ndidi will be his deputy. The statement further explained that the move was part of a new approach to make players who have more influence on the pitch lead the squad.
“Our Board of Directors and technical team have agreed that players in more influential positions on the field should serve as captains. Consequently, Orkun Kökçü has been appointed first captain, while Wilfred Ndidi will serve as second captain,” it added.
“We thank Necip Uysal and Mert Günok for their efforts during their captaincy and wish our new captains success.”
Before this promotion, Ndidi had already shown his leadership qualities for the Super Eagles. Just recently, with regular captain William Troost-Ekong on the bench, he led Nigeria to a commanding 4–0 win over Benin in Uyo on 14 October 2025.
Also, as revealed in an earlier report, even former coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who signed Ndidi during his brief spell at the club, had spoken highly of his attitude and leadership.
“He’s a very professional footballer, a great human being, and he gives us something we haven’t had before,” Solskjær said in August, shortly after the Nigerian’s arrival.
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