Maduka Okoye Insists He Is ‘100% Udinese’ Despite Transfer Rumours Ahead of 2026/27 Season

Nigerian international goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has moved to quell speculation about his future at Udinese, stating unequivocally that his focus remains entirely on the Italian club despite mounting transfer interest from elsewhere.

Speaking in an interview with Transfermarkt, the 26-year-old outlined the comfort and stability he has found in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia city. “I am really very happy at Udinese, and I really appreciate the association, all the employees, the beautiful city that has become my second home, and the people very much,” Okoye said. “Also the peace and routine I found here. Of course, I still have goals in my career, but currently my head is completely at Udinese. I enjoy it without thinking too much about the future.”

The former Watford and Sparta Rotterdam shot-stopper acknowledged that football can shift rapidly, but made his present position clear. “In football, things can change quickly, and if it happens, I know that the club is well positioned, and I can still earn him a nice replacement. But until then, I’m 100 per cent Udinese professional,” he added.

On the subject of transfer interest, Okoye described the external attention as a “good push” while deferring decision-making to his representatives. “However, I leave this to my advisors, where I am in outstanding hands with Gabriele Giuffrida and Co. That’s their part, and I have absolute confidence in their work,” he said.

Okoye’s measured comments come on the back of one of the more impressive individual seasons recorded by a goalkeeper in Serie A during the 2025/26 campaign. Across 30 league appearances, the Nigeria international kept 10 clean sheets and conceded just 32 goals, contributions that proved instrumental as Udinese secured their top-flight status with a 50-point finish.

Among the highlights of his season was a commanding 3-0 shutout against AC Milan at the San Siro, a result that underscored his growing authority at the highest level of Italian football. The performance was particularly notable given the turbulence that preceded it — Okoye had been temporarily sidelined at the start of the season following a suspension connected to a sports betting investigation. His seamless return to the starting lineup and the consistency he subsequently produced served to both rebuild his reputation and vindicate Udinese’s decision to stand by him throughout that period.

At 26, Okoye remains one of the more prominent African goalkeepers operating in a top European league. His development at Udinese follows earlier stints in the Netherlands with Sparta Rotterdam and in England’s Championship with Watford, where he established himself as a reliable option before securing his move to Serie A. With the 2026/27 Serie A season approaching, his comments are likely to provide temporary clarity on his situation, though the transfer window remains open and interest from other clubs has not been formally denied.