Beşiktaş shows interest in Okoye again

Beşiktaş, a top club in Turkey, is reportedly interested in Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. They want to strengthen their goalkeeping position.

An Italian website, Tuttomercatoweb, said that Beşiktaş has added Udinese's goalkeeper to their list of players they want to sign. Okoye is apparently open to moving to Turkey.

Beşiktaş is looking for a solid goalkeeper to give more competition to their current starter, Alexander Nübel.

Okoye, who is 27 years old, has had a tough time this season in Serie A. He has faced a lot of criticism for his performances. He has let in 25 goals in just 10 league games for Udinese, who are at the bottom of the table. Still, this has not stopped the Turkish club from pursuing him.

The former Watford and Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper has a market value of €10 million.

Okoye's future with the Super Eagles is also unclear. He was left out of coach Eric Chelle’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania. Chelle chose Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho, and Arthur Okonkwo instead. This decision came after Okoye arrived late to the Super Eagles camp in September, being the last player to join ahead of the Madagascar qualifier in Uyo.

Chelle assured that the door is still open for him.

"Maduka Okoye is in the national team. I made the choice like the other players. The national team is not closed to him or them. I made my choice," the coach said during his pre-match press conference.

He mentioned that his decision was based on more than just what happens on the field.

"When I made my choice, it was based on what happened on the pitch and around it. We need to have a good position in the group. How do we feel within that group?" he explained.

Okoye seemed to be getting back into the coach's plans after good performances against Poland and Portugal in June 2025. Since he debuted against Brazil in October 2019, he has played 21 times for Nigeria.

A move to Beşiktaş could give Okoye a chance to improve his form away from the pressure he faces in Italy, if the Turkish club decides to make a formal offer.