Leeds United’s attempts to sign Noah Okafor have suddenly gained traction with reports from Italy suggesting that talks are underway between the player, Leeds and AC Milan.
As Leeds prepare to face Everton in their inaugural Premier League game of the 2025/26 season, Daniel Farke is closing in on one of the final missing pieces in his squad.
The deal gathered momentum on the evening of the 17th August as a flood of new reports broke. The first stated that Leeds have reached an agreement on personal terms with the player, and the two clubs now need to agree on a fee.
However, it was subsequently suggested that Leeds have concerns over Okafor’s injury record, as AC Milan will demand in the region of £17 million for the forward.
As Leeds consider their next move in the negotiation, Leeds United News looks back at Okafor’s injury record which does raise questions over the deal.
Noah Okafor’s recent injury track record
Although Okafor has not had many major injuries during his career, Leeds will be concerned by a steady increase in the number of muscular injuries he has suffered in recent years.
Last season, according to the injury data from Flashscore, five injuries ruled Okafor out of a total of 11 Serie A games, with a calf muscle tear suffered in December 2024 keeping him out of the side for just over a month.
Okafor also missed 14 games the season prior, including just under a month out with a hamstring injury in November.
His most significant injury layoff came in 2023, when a fractured metatarsal kept Okafor out for more than three months. Concerningly, he has suffered a series of muscular injuries since then, which is a cause for concern for Leeds United, having already gambled on the fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Leeds have been burnt before when bringing in players with a track record of injuries. As a result, his medical will be crucial if the clubs can agree on a fee.
Leeds United target saw January transfer collapse
With Leeds edging closer to a deal for the winger, Okafor looks set to finally leave Milan, having also come close to an exit in January 2025.
The Swiss international looked set to return to the Red Bull stable, having previously played for RB Salzburg, with Leipzig looking to bring him to the Bundesliga.
However, Philipp Heinze of Sky Germany reported at the time that Okafor failed his medical with the club, due to his calf injury, which caused the transfer to fall through.
Okafor returned to full fitness after this move collapsed, and Leeds will hope those injuries are now firmly in the past as they close on the talented winger.
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