Leicester City block January exit for Caleb Okoli

Leicester City have reportedly blocked a potential January exit for defender Caleb Okoli, turning down a transfer approach from Italian Serie B side Cremonese.

According to Sky Sports reported Gianluca Di MarzioThe Foxes have made it clear that the 24-year-old centre-back is not for sale during this window, despite the player’s fluctuating minutes in the Championship this season.

Leicester City halted Caleb Okoli’s advance

Di Marzio revealed that Cremonese had identified Caleb around as a key target to strengthen their defensive line.

However, the investigation was met with a rapid and decisive refusal from the Leicester City hierarchy.

He said the club immediately rejected the interest, signaling their intention to keep the team intact for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.

This is not the first time that an Italian club has shown interest in the Leicester City player. Back in summer, AC Milan reportedly linked with move for Okoli Also.

Okoli, who joined the Foxes from Atalanta, has been in the squad this season but has faced stiff competition for the starting spot.

Although he is not an undisputed starter every week, having made 14 league appearances so far, the club obviously see him as a vital asset.

Given the grueling nature of the Championship schedule and the club’s ambition to climb the table, losing a senior defender in January was apparently a risk the management were unwilling to take.

Leicester City’s 25/26 season so far

The return to second tier has been eventful for Leicester City. Following their relegation from the Premier League last year, the Foxes have struggled to find consistency in the Championship.

At the start of January 2026, the team finds itself in mid-table obscurity, occupying 14th place with 34 points from 25 matches.

The inconsistency kept them from gaining momentum toward playoff spots.

The team managed a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Derby County to close out 2025, only to suffer a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United on New Year’s Day.

Under the leadership of Martí Cifuentes, the defense has been porous, conceding 37 goals in 25 games, a record which explains the club’s reluctance to let a defender like Okoli leave.

With the playoff places slipping away, retaining squad depth will be crucial if Leicester hope to stage a late promotion push in the second half of the season.