Wilfred Ndidi’s journey is one that often flies under the radar for many football fans, especially those interested in the history of defensive midfielders. Born to a military officer, Ndidi grew up in a Nigerian Military Cantonment situated in Ikeja, Lagos.
His story takes a turn when he defied his father’s wishes. Despite his father’s disinterest in football due to his military career, Ndidi pursued his passion with determination. As he explains, “My father wasn’t really into football because of his military job. I missed out on schooling because of football. With my dad’s postings taking him far from home, I saw an opportunity and joined Nath Boys Academy without telling him.”
Wilfred Ndidi: From a Military Background to Becoming a Star Midfielder
Focused solely on football, Ndidi rose through the ranks at Nath Boys Academy, becoming their standout player. His smooth transition to European football was greatly aided by Belgian couple Theo and Marleen van Vlierden, who welcomed him into their home when he arrived in Genk in 2015. This article delves into not just the details of Wilfred Ndidi’s childhood, but also his remarkable ascent in the world of football.
Preamble:
The untold story of Wilfred Ndidi dives deep into his journey from childhood to his rise in football, offering a comprehensive look at significant events from his early years to the present. This account explores Ndidi’s life before fame, his family background, and many lesser-known facts about him both on and off the pitch.
While it’s well known that Ndidi is a dynamic, combative midfielder, much like Mario Lemina, and a key player alongside Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi for the Nigerian national team, many football fans might not be familiar with his full biography. This article aims to shed light on his intriguing story. So, let’s dive in.
Wilfred Ndidi Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
For Biography starters, his full name is Onyinye Wilfred Ndidi. Ndidi was born on the 16th day of December 1996 in Lagos, Nigeria, to his father (a serving military man at the time of writing) and his mother, who is a trader.
He was born as the first child and the only son of three kids. This literally means he has two sisters.
The Nigerian footballer (Wilfried Ndidi) was born to a Military officer. As the son of a military man, Ndidi grew up in the famous Military Cantonment of Ikeja, Lagos state, Nigeria.
He started playing football at the Command Children School, which offered him the opportunity to passionately play competitive soccer during sports periods.
Our version of Wilfred Ndidi’s Childhood Story is interesting, if not uncommon–It is about a little boy with a testing childhood life, one who went against all odds stacked against him by his military father.
Ndidi, right from his primary schooling days, possessed a steely determination to make his dreams come true, and his ambitions were not just a passing fancy.
For Ndidi, the focal point in his childhood life entails him going against the wishes of his father, who never wanted him to become a footballer. In his words…
“My father was not really into football because of his Military job. Ndidi, he told the Leicester Mercury.
“My dad watched it on the television on a few occasions, but he didn’t want me to play football. Despite him being a soldier, he still never wants me to follow in his footsteps. He just wanted me to go to school.
I did miss out on schooling because of football. Since my dad’s military life came with lots of postings and distance away from the family, I took that opportunity and moved to Nath Boys Academy without his knowledge.
This time, going to school became totally off my mind because I trusted my abilities.
He only got to know when Nigeria called me for the 2013 African U-17 Championship. That time, he gave me fatherly blessings and full support.”
Back then, at Natt Boys Academy, Ndidi played as a striker with guys above his age group. He attributed his toughness on the ball to the knocks he received from the older players while growing up.
Wilfred Ndidi Biography Facts – Rising to Fame Story:
Ndidi grew up in the football ranks at Nath Boys Academy and became their best player. It didn’t take long before he got the shocker of his life, as they called him to represent Nigeria at the 2013 African U-17 Championship.
He came into the tournament as a central midfielder thanks to his utility role.
His performance at the championship saw Belgium scouts raiding him off the West African country to Belgium, where he joined Genk.
At Genk, he became a first-team regular and showcased a wide range of passing and shooting at long range.
Ndidi got global recognition when he scored a long-range goal of the season in Belgium. His ferocious volley was measured to travel over 111 km/h.
This made English champions consider him as a possible replacement to N’Golo Kante. KRC Genk snapped up the young Ndidi for about £78,000 but made a tidy profit when they sold him on to Leicester City barely two years later for a reported £15m.
At Leicester, fellow countryman Ahmed Musa helped him settle.
As Ndidi puts it; “Musa drives me around. If we have an away game, he picks me up and drives me to the airport, during breaks, he drives me showing me stuffs around town. At this moment, I don’t have my driving license and still don’t know how to drive.”
Unlike Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho, Ndidi adapted to Leicester City at a fast pace. His bullet goal against Stoke captured the hearts of Leicester fans.
For Leicester fans, The love for Ndidi still deepens even though he got his first career red card on 16 December 2017 – which also happens to be his birthday. He will be forever known as an ‘all-action midfielder’. The rest, as they say, is now history.
Wilfred Ndidi Family Life:
Did you know? Wilfred Ndidi’s smooth transition to European football was largely thanks to a Belgian couple, Theo and Marleen van Vlierden. They welcomed him into their home when he arrived in Genk in 2015.
Ndidi would never forget the help he received from Theo van Vlierden and his wife, Marleen.
The couple shared with ’TANA AIYEJINA from Punch Newspaper their first meeting with Ndidi and how they’ve been living as one big, happy family ever since. Here’s a sneak peek of their interview.
How and when did you get to know Wilfred? …Theo:
In early January 2014, Wilfred arrived in Belgium for his two-month trial with KRC Genk. At just 17 years old, he was still very young. For the first few days, he stayed in a hotel, but due to a lack of available accommodations, KRC Genk asked if we could host him for a few weeks. My wife and I exchanged a glance, didn’t say a word, but our nods of agreement made it clear we were happy to help.
What was your first impression of him, and what attracted your family to him?
Marleen:
When we first met Wilfred, he seemed a bit shy and timid. We couldn’t help but notice he was dressed for summer during the cold winter months, which made us think he must be freezing. His shy smile and bright white teeth only added to the impression, and we quickly warmed up to him.
How challenging was it for him to adapt to life in Europe?
Theo:
Adapting to a new country is a big challenge for any young person, but he’s adjusted remarkably well, both here and in England. When he first arrived in Belgium, he felt at home within just a few weeks. We made sure to guide him on how to settle in and made him feel like a part of our family.
They describe Wilfred as having a charming personality. Do you agree?
Marleen:
Absolutely, we couldn’t agree more. Wilfred has an amazing personality—he’s consistently cheerful, friendly, and polite. It’s not just us who see this; his teammates, all the KRC Genk staff, and the fans all appreciate him as well.
When he made a move to England, how did the family feel?
Theo:
After living together for over two years, we naturally formed a special bond with him. He became a true part of our family—our son in every sense, and he will always hold that place in our hearts. His move to England was tough on all of us, especially Marleen, who shed some tears when he left.
It was an emotional time for me as well. We still keep in touch almost daily through WhatsApp and social media, which helps ease the distance a bit. In the past few months, we’ve visited him several times, with our son Christophe joining us. Our first visit was in January for the Leicester City vs. Chelsea game. We went back a few weeks later, bringing his clothes and belongings from Belgium to Leicester in a Ford Transit van, crossing the Channel Tunnel. We visited again in March and April, taking the opportunity to watch a few more Leicester games. Despite the distance, we remain closely connected, and those visits were filled with love and support.
Given his incredible talents and personality, how far do you think Wilfred can go in his football career?
Words form Theo:
We’re confident that Wilfred has a bright future ahead in football. As long as he stays focused and keeps working hard, he’s bound to make great progress. I’m certain that this isn’t the end of his journey.
Ndidi scored his first goal in England with a fantastic 25-yard shot in the FA Cup. How did the family celebrate his achievement?
Words from Marleen:
We were absolutely thrilled that day. While I was at home, my husband and son attended the Belgian Golden Shoe Gala. It was a proud moment for us when Wilfred was awarded the title for the Most Beautiful Goal of the Year in 2016. He was also among the top three nominees for the Promising Young Player of the Year. I’m sure you’ve seen the incredible goal he scored against Club Brugge, which earned him that recognition.
A lot of people think it would be tough for him to fill N’Golo Kante’s big shoes. Were you skeptical at first?
Words from Theo:
No, I wasn’t comparing the two at all. You really can’t. Kante is Kante, and Ndidi is Ndidi—each has their own unique strengths. While Kante has big shoes to fill, Ndidi brings his own set of skills to the table. With his long, extendable legs, he’s everywhere on the pitch, recovering the ball with incredible precision. His ability to cover ground and his remarkable endurance make him a force to be reckoned with in his own right.
When he first arrived in Belgium, how did he adjust to the food, weather, and culture?
Words from Marleen: It did take some time to adjust, but overall, things were going quite well. I often cooked meals with rice, noodles, and chicken, which he really enjoyed. He also had a particular liking for an egg omelet with ham, tomatoes, and onions.
He found oven-baked casseroles, meatloaf with mashed potatoes, and leeks to be quite delicious too. Occasionally, a Nigerian teammate would bring him some Nigerian food from Antwerp, giving him a taste of home.
The weather was quite a different experience for him. Coming from Nigeria, where the temperature ranges from 28 degrees in winter to over 36 degrees in summer, the Belgian climate was a big change. For instance, he had never seen snow before arriving in Belgium, so that was something new for him.
How much do you know about his roots?
Theo:
We’ve learned a bit about his background. We’ve seen photos of his mother, father, and two younger sisters, which give us a glimpse into his family life. We’re also somewhat familiar with Nigerian society and keep up with news from there through TV reports.
Wilfred Ndidi Idols:
Ndidi is a confirmed Chelsea fan right from his youthful days. He grew up watching Didier Drogba, John Terry and John Obi-Mikel, his favourites who inspired him to become a footballer.
“I’ve always admired Mikel,” Ndidi told Goal. “When he was at Chelsea, I was playing for Nath Boys as a youth player, and I was a huge fan of his. I’ve always been fascinated by the way he plays.
In Nigeria, whenever my friends and I discuss football, Mikel is always a big topic. He’s such an important figure in Nigerian football. When I was younger, the only player I really admired outside of Africa was Ricardo Kaka.”
Genk Emotional Departure:
At his departure from Genk to join Leicester City, Ndidi wrote an emotional letter to the KRC Genk fans, which went viral on Instagram with over 8000 likes in its first few days online.
Wilfred Ndidi Bio – His Leicester Song:
Ndidi is a fans’ favourite at the King Power Stadium and has a special number dedicated to him by the Leicester City faithful, and it goes like this:
There he was with the ball at his feet, singin’
“Oh Ndidi didi dum didi do”
Beating defenders while shufflin’ his feet, singing’
“Oh Ndidi didi dum didi do “
He looked good (looked good),
he looked fine (looked fine)
He looked good; he looked fine.
Leicester City’s twenty-five
Appreciation Note:
Thanks for reading Wilfred Ndidi’s Biography, a footballer who, at the time of writing, wears Leicester’s iconic number 6 jersey. We strive for accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver you football stories of footballers of Nigerian origin.
Surely, the Life stories of Carney Chukwuemeka and Chuba Akpom will excite you. Let’s not forget Ashleigh Plumptre, who plays football with Leicester FC at the time of writing.
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