Italian-born Nigerian defender Caleb Okoli has joined newly promoted Premier League club Leicester City from Atalanta.

Leicester, in a statement, said Okoli has joined on a five-year-deal, subject to Premier League and international clearance.

Speaking to Leicester’s Hub, the 22-year-old said, “I think now is the right moment [for me] to make a step forward and a very big one. I’m very happy with the choice I made, so I’m very excited to start in the Premier League. Now I’m here in Leicester I’m feeling ready to start with my new team.

“It was the right opportunity and it’s very important for me. The Premier League is the best league in the world. Leicester is a beautiful club, an important club and the two combined together, so I took this opportunity to come and express myself in the Premier League.”

Born in Vicenza in Italy, Okoli joined Atalanta in the summer of 2015 and won the National Youth Super Cup (Primavera) with the Under-19s in 2019, before joining SPAL on loan for the 2020/21 season, making 16 appearances for the Serie B side and scoring once in a 2-1 victory over Lecce.

He continued his development at Serie B level with a loan spell at Cremonese in 2021/22, featuring 27 times, before making his Serie A debut for Atalanta in a 2-1 win against Sampdoria in August 2022.

He made 17 appearances for the Nerazzurri during the 2022/23 campaign, helping the side to a fifth-place finish and UEFA Europa League qualification.

In September 2023, the defender joined newly promoted Serie A club Frosinone on a season long loan and went on to feature for them on 37 occasions in all competitions, building on an already impressive reputation.

On the international stage, he has represented Italy at U19, U20 and U21 level.

Okoli will now link up with his Leicester City team-mates as pre-season gets underway and preparations begin for their return to Premier League football.

He is eligible to play for both Italy and Nigeria since he has not played for the former’s senior national team.