Leeds United Complete £18m Signing of Noah Okafor from AC Milan
Leeds, England, Newly promoted to the Premier League, Leeds United have bolstered their attacking options by signing Swiss forward Noah Okafor from AC Milan for a reported £18 million. The move marks the Whites’ ninth signing of the summer and pushes Premier League spending beyond £2.36 billion in this window.
The Details of the Transfer
Okafor has agreed to a four-year contract, pending a work permit and international clearance.
AC Milan officially confirmed the permanent transfer, thanking the forward for his professionalism during his time in Italy.
A versatile attacker capable of playing across the frontline—either on the wing or as a central striker, Okafor brings flexibility and pace to Leeds’ offense.
Career Highlights
Basel → Red Bull Salzburg: Okafor began his rise in Switzerland before moving to Salzburg in 2020, where he won four consecutive league titles and three domestic cups, while tallying 57 goal contributions in over 100 appearances.
Salzburg → AC Milan: In 2023, he joined AC Milan, making 39 league appearances and scoring seven goals over two seasons.
Loan to Napoli: This year, he had a brief loan stint at Napoli, contributing to their Serie A title win despite limited playing time.
International Experience: Since debuting for the Swiss national team in 2019, Okafor has earned 24 caps and featured at the 2022 World Cup.
What Okafor Said
Speaking to Leeds TV (LUTV) after signing, Okafor said:
“As a kid, I dreamed of playing in the Premier League… I said, yeah, my football suits the Premier League… I have loads of friends that played there… I’m really, really excited.”
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He also mentioned reconnecting with familiar faces from his pre-season match encounters and former teammates:
“I know Brenden Aaronson… I used to play with him in Salzburg… I also know Isaac Schmidt… and Lukas Nmecha.”
Reflecting on the club’s atmosphere, he added:
“In Dublin… I saw 50,000 fans… then I was like, wow… I heard in Elland Road the atmosphere should be crazy.”
Strategic Fit for Leeds
The signing aligns with head coach Daniel Farke’s push for attacking depth. Okafor joins a strikeforce that includes Lukas Nmecha, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Joël Piroe, offering tactical versatility and speed.