Jid Okeke is set to leave Stockport County at the end of his contract after agreeing a deal to move to his native Germany.
The 21-year-old is currently out on loan at League Two side Walsall, but has struggled for game time since his January window return, playing just nine times for the Saddlers.
Okeke Exit Agreed
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Okeke will leave England in the summer after his contract at Edgeley Park runs out, with 3. Liga side Waldhof Mannheim agreeing a pre-contract with the defender.
The Baden-Württemberg side are set to remain in the German third tier next season, with the club firmly fixed in midtable and only six games remaining of their campaign, which ends against former Bundesliga side FC Ingolstadt.
Having previously been in the Oldham Athletic academy, Okeke made the switch to their Greater Manchester rivals in 2023, who handed him a series of non-league loan experiences at Chester, South Shields and finally Rochdale.
Dave Challinor then handed him his senior debut in 2024 in the EFL Cup before making his league debut at the start of this campaign with Walsall, with a brief recall in January before being sent back out to the Bescot Stadium.
He has played 27 times for the Saddlers since his initial switch, but has found himself on the fringes following the exit of Mat Sadler and has been ousted by Connor Barrett in the plans of interim boss Darren Byfield.
Chances Limited For Wing-Back
With no feasible path for Jid Okeke to stake his claim for a first-team spot at Stockport County, not helped at all by the prospect of another promotion for the Hatters, it is best for all parties for the right-wing-back to leave the club.
He has shown steady progress throughout his time at Edgeley Park, finally making his EFL debut with a Walsall side tipped for promotion this campaign and briefly earned himself some appearances for his parent club over the festive period.
However, with the arrival of Bolton Wanderers‘ Josh Dacres-Cogley, Okeke’s path forward at Stockport looks very bleak, meaning that a move has materialised for him to head back to Germany.
The chance of Championship football next season means that planning for transfers is likely on hold until there is a clearer picture, with a new full-back to support Dacres-Cogley likely high on the priority list with current backup choices Tyler Oyango and Roman Dixon both set to head back to Everton at the end of the season.
