Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been handed a new leadership role at Turkish giants Beşiktaş FC, following his appointment as the club’s vice-captain on Friday.

Ndidi, who has quickly become a key figure since his move to Istanbul, will serve as deputy to Turkish international Orkun Kökçü, who takes over as team captain. The duo replaces long-time skipper Necip Uysal and goalkeeper Mert Günok, who previously held the captain and vice-captain positions.

In an official statement, Beşiktaş confirmed the reshuffle, saying:

“With the decision of our President Serdal Island and the Board of Directors, changes have been made regarding the captaincy of our Football A Team.
Based on the recommendation of our technical team and the players’ effectiveness on the field, Orkun Kökçü has been appointed as first captain and Wilfred Ndidi as second captain.”

The club also expressed gratitude to Uysal and Günok for their leadership and contributions over the years, emphasizing confidence in the new leadership pair to bring energy, professionalism, and unity to the squad.

Beşiktaş currently sit sixth in the Turkish Super Lig table with 13 points from seven matches, and the new captaincy team will officially take charge when the Black Eagles host Gençlerbirliği S.K. later today, October 18, for their Matchday 8 clash.

Notably, Ndidi recently captained Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their international friendly against Benin Republic on October 14, stepping in for the injured William Troost-Ekong, further underlining his growing leadership reputation on and off the pitch.