Leeds United emerge as option for Milan forward Okafor | OneFootball

Newly-promoted Premier League side Leeds United are reportedly interested in striking a deal with Milan for Switzerland international Noah Okafor according to reports in the UK.

Leeds United interested in Okafor deal with Milan

As per The Athletic, Leeds, who played Milan in a pre-season friendly last weekend, are keen on bringing Okafor on board for the 2025-26 campaign.

The 25-year-old had been deemed surplus to requirements midway through the 2024-25 season, which led to his being sent out on loan to Napoli, where he struggled to break into Antonio Conte’s first-team plans en route to the Scudetto.

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 17: Noah Okafor of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Torino at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 17, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

He returned to Milan in the summer under new head coach Massimiliano Allegri, and made a decent impression on the pre-season tour of Asia and Australia, netting back-to-back braces in encouraging victories over Liverpool and Perth Glory.

HONG KONG, CHINA – JULY 26: Noah Okafor of AC Milan (R) celebrates after scoring his goal with Warren Pierre Bondo of AC Milan (L) during the Liverpool FC v AC Milan Pre-Season Friendly match at Kai Tak Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

While an exact fee for Leeds has not yet been specified, reports from Calciomercato.com suggest that Bologna had seen an approach for Okafor turned down earlier this summer, which gives some indication over the possible price range.

The Rossoblu, looking to replace recent Nottingham Forest signing Dan Ndoye, had a proposal for an initial loan deal and an option to buy for a fee in the region of €15m-€16m turned down by the Rossoneri, which was not accepted.

Okafor cost Milan a fee in the region of €13m-€15m in the summer of 2023.