Ndidi set to return to Premier League action to defend records he set as a Nigerian
Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi is returning to the Premier League Monday night at the King Power stadium when Leicester City host Tottenham Hotspur in their first game of the season after spending last term in the Sky Bet Championship, the second tier of English football.
The Nigerian was relegated with the Foxes at the end of the 2022/23 season but the 27-year-old inspired them to make an instant return with four goals and five assists in a more offensive position under manager, Enzo Maresca.
Ndidi will now be returning to a terrain he got introduced to in January 2017 and which he spent almost six years playing in before the relegation at the end of the 2022/23 season.
He is now returning to defend some of the defensive records he set in the competition as a Nigerian and will be hoping not to extend some unwanted ones.
The former KRC of Belgium player was named best tackler in the Premier League for two straight seasons and he is number one among the Nigerians who have had to undertake defensive duties in the competition.
His 694 tackles are the most by a Nigerian and 155 more than Chelsea legend, Mikel Obi had (539) in his 10 years in the Premier League.
Ndidi has also made the most interceptions by a Nigerian in the competition with the 390 he has made, 16 more than Mikel made while in England and in the Premier League.
The Leicester City midfield general is set to extend the two records as the nearest to him among the players still playing in the Premier League is Alex Iwobi who has made just 270 interceptions.
Ndidi is first (63) in the number of blocks that he has made with Joseph Yobo, a record the Leicester City man is sure to make his exclusively with Iwobi 49 behind.
The Super Eagles midfielder has also won more aerial battles (514), committed more fouls (302) among the players still in the competition but second behind Mikel (328). He has earned 34 yellow cards, four less than Mikel did while he has committed most errors leading to goal (3) and more penalties (eight) than any Nigerian.
