The Genk defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi will join Leicester City after the 19-year-old completed a medical with the Premier League champions.

Ndidi is set to sign for Claudio Ranieri’s team for around £15m when the transfer window reopens next month, subject to being granted a work permit.

The Nigeria international has agreed a five-year contract and has been earmarked as a long-term replacement for N’Golo Kanté, who Leicester sold to Chelsea in the summer.

Ndidi moved to Genk from Nathaniel Boys of Lagos after impressing during a trial and made his debut in January 2015 as a centre-half. He can also play at right-back and has been capped twice by Nigeria.

He will join his international team‑mate Ahmed Musa at Leicester and both will be available during the Africa Cup of Nations in January because Nigeria failed to qualify.