Leeds United have seen a proposed move to Elland Road rejected by sought-after defender Daniel Obi, according to All Nigerian Soccer.
The young Nigerian is claimed to have penned a two-year scholarship with Premier League side Leicester City, and will join the Foxes as part of their first influx of first-year scholars for the 2019/20 season.
Obi has been in talks to join the King Power Stadium side since 2018, with reports surfacing in November that the centre-back would join Leicester following a successful trial at the East Midlands outfit.
The agreement claimed to have been reached seven months ago could not be triggered until July 1, however, which gave Leeds, Derby County, and Birmingham City the chance to hold talks with the youngster.
But Obi evidently favoured a move to Leicester, where he joins compatriots Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi – two Super Eagles internationals he hopes to follow into professional football.
The young centre-half has already represented the Foxes in a competitive Under 18s fixture, as he made his debut against Norwich City in a U18 Premier League tie in April.
Leeds targeting the promising defender highlights once more Director of Football Victor Orta’s eagerness to improve the Whites’ youth ranks, where 19-year-old Pascal Struijk has been plying his trade since leaving Ajax’s Under 19s in January 2018.
The former Netherlands U17 international is now expected to play a key role in Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team plans next season, with the club seemingly opposed to replacing Pontus Jansson with a senior addition acquired on the transfer market after adding Ben White on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.