Fresh details emerge on Abdul Fatawu's Leicester City future | OneFootball

Highlights

Leicester City are set to make their first signing ahead of their return to the Premier League in 2024/25.

The Foxes have finally gained promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, and with the focus now firmly set on making sure the squad is as strong as it can be to avoid an instant return to the second tier, moves are being made.

One such transfer that is set to be made is the permanent transfer of Ghanaian winger Abdul Fatawu, who is on loan from Portuguese side Sporting CP.

When the Lisbon-based side loaned out the Ghanaian, who can play on either the left or right wing, there was a clause put into the contract of the deal. That clause being if Leicester were to gain promotion back to England's top flight at the first time of asking, then they would have to pay Sporting a mandatory €17m fee to make the deal permanent.

Thanks to Leeds United's loss to Queens Park Rangers on Friday night, this mandatory fee is now set to be paid and Fatawu will now be a Premier League player next year.

It was also reported by Sportwitness that as part of this deal, Sporting will only receive €8m as they owe Fatawu's boyhood club Steadfast FC 50% of the fee they receive from Leicester.

There were concerns that Leicester's financial situation could scupper any deal, but this update suggests there are no major concerns, meaning Fatawu will play with them in the Premier League.

Fatawu's amazing Championship season

It may come as a surprise that the club are only signing the 20-year-old for only €17m, which equates to £14.5m, considering the spectacular season he has had for the Foxes.

He joined the club in August of last year, and at the time, he stated on the club's wesbite, "I'm so happy. This is an amazing moment for me, I'm happy to be here."

He has since gone on to repay the faith that Enzo Maresca showed when the Italian elected to sign the then 19-year-old on loan, with form that has certainly made him one of the hotter prospects in English football.

Bargain deal for Premier League preparations

With the above stats showing just how impressive the attacker has been this season, there is no doubt that if he is given ample time to adjust to the Premier League, and Maresca continues to opt for his fantastic style of play instead of defensive-minded football, then Fatawu can make a real name for himself extremely quickly in English football.

Furthermore, if he is coached correctly and is guided by the more experienced players in the Leicester City squad through this first Premier League season, there is easy justification for the €17m fee that Leicester will be paying very soon.

So, with the signing of one player all but wrapped up for the Foxes ahead of the summer, there will be hope now that they can potentially move on some players to make space for even more incoming talent, as well as hold onto existing starlets, as they look establish themselves back in the top flight.