He arrived at Leicester City for a seven-figure fee, but Ruud van Nistelrooy has yet to give him a chance.
Leicester City have made 10 signings across the last two transfer windows, but one player is struggling for minutes.
Michael Golding Yet to Feature for Leicester City Under Ruud van Nistelrooy
After returning to the Premier League, Leicester City made nine new signings in the summer of 2024, aiming to strengthen their squad.
Among them, Oliver Skipp arrived as the club’s most expensive signing, but his time at the King Power Stadium has been far from ideal.
In contrast, Bilal El Khannouss has been outstanding since joining, delivering impressive performances even in Leicester’s recent defeat to Manchester United.
Caleb Okoli also stood out in the Foxes’ FA Cup loss, potentially earning back his place under Ruud van Nistelrooy after previously falling out of favor.
However, one summer signing remains completely overlooked—Michael Golding, a promising young midfielder brought in by former manager Steve Cooper.
Golding’s Arrival and Lack of First-Team Opportunities
Golding joined Leicester from Chelsea on July 7, 2024, with the BBC reporting a transfer fee of approximately £4 million.
At the time of his signing, the 18-year-old was eager to develop and contribute to the team.
“I’m really looking forward to making leaps in my career here and helping the team as much as I can,” Golding said upon joining.
“The history of the club speaks for itself; there are great players here, and I want to learn as much as possible. I’m also excited to work with Steve Cooper, given his track record with young players.”
Despite his enthusiasm, neither Cooper nor Van Nistelrooy have given Golding any first-team minutes so far.
Instead, he has been limited to youth-level appearances, featuring five times in the Premier League 2 and twice in the EFL Trophy, where he registered one goal and one assist.
Could Golding Be the Answer to Leicester’s Midfield Struggles?
Even at the U21 level, Golding’s playing time has diminished, as he has not been included in Leicester’s last five Premier League 2 matchday squads.
Primarily a central midfielder, he has been deployed in a more advanced role since moving to Leicester but could still provide an option for Van Nistelrooy off the bench.
Leicester’s midfield has struggled, with limited quality options available. Given the underwhelming performances of Skipp and Harry Winks, supporters might welcome Golding’s inclusion in matchday squads.
Van Nistelrooy recently justified selecting 15-year-old Jeremy Monga for the squad against Manchester United.
If Monga can earn a chance, surely Golding deserves an opportunity to prove himself as well.
