Leicester City have reportedly rejected a transfer offer from Italian Serie B side Cremonese, preventing defender Caleb Okoli from leaving the club in January.
Sky Sports report Gianluca Di Marzio that the Foxes have revealed that the 24-year-old centre-back is not for sale during this period, despite his fluctuating minutes in the Championship this season.
Leicester City deny Caleb Okoli progress
Coach Di Marzio revealed that Kremonen has identified Caleb Okoli as a key target to strengthen his defensive line.
However, the investigation was met with swift and firm rejection from Leicester City authorities.
He said the club immediately rejected interest and indicated its intention to keep the squad intact for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
This is not the first time an Italian club has shown interest in a Leicester City player. Back in the summer, AC Milan were also linked with a move for Okoli.
Okoli, who joined the Foxes from Atalanta, has been featured in the squad this season but faces stiff competition for a starting spot.
He has appeared in 14 league games so far, and while he is not an absolute starter every week, the club clearly see him as an important asset.
Given the grueling nature of the Championship schedule and the club’s ambitions to move up the table, losing the senior defender in January appears to have been an unwelcome risk for management.
Leicester City’s 25/26 season so far
It was a turbulent return to the second division for Leicester City. After being relegated from the Premier League last year, the Foxes have found it difficult to find consistency in the Championship.
As of early January 2026, the team is in mid-table, sitting in 14th place with 34 points from 25 games.
This inconsistency prevented them from gaining momentum heading into the playoffs.
The team ended 2025 with a morale-boosting 2-1 win against Derby County, but suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Sheffield United on New Year’s Day.
Under manager Marti Sifuentes, the defense has been lackluster, conceding 37 goals in 25 games, a record that speaks to the club’s reluctance to let a defender like Okoli leave.
With a play-off spot in the distance, maintaining the depth of Leicester’s squad will be vital if they hope to build momentum in the second half of the season towards promotion.
