Leicester City Spent £13m on ‘Exciting’ Talent Who Played Just 95 Minutes in Four Years Before Leaving
Leicester City's Transfer Woes: The Costly Signing Who Left After Just Two Games in Four Years
With Leicester City facing the grim prospect of relegation for the second time in three seasons, fans are calling for Jon Rudkin’s departure.
The Foxes’ dramatic decline from Premier League champions and FA Cup winners to 19th place in the table—suffering 11 losses in their last 12 games—has been painful to watch.
While several factors have contributed to their downfall, poor recruitment under Rudkin stands out as a significant issue.
This season alone, Leicester’s transfer business has been disastrous.
Oliver Skipp, signed from Tottenham Hotspur for £20 million, has failed to impress, while Odsonne Édouard, brought in on loan from Crystal Palace, has yet to score a single goal.
However, one of the club’s biggest transfer blunders dates back to 2018.
Leicester City’s Costly Mistake with Filip Benković
In August 2018, Leicester signed Croatian defender Filip Benković from Dinamo Zagreb for £13 million, as reported by Sky Sports.
At the time, he was just 21 years old, and then-manager Claude Puel was full of praise for his potential.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Puel said: “Filip is an exciting young player who has the potential to develop even more at Leicester.
He has made a big contribution to Dinamo Zagreb over the last three years and has also benefitted from experiencing European football.
I know he will give us some great options and competition in the squad, and I’m delighted to have him here.”
Despite this optimism, Benković barely featured for Leicester. His debut came on September 28, 2018, in a League Cup match against Fleetwood Town, where he played 28 minutes off the bench.
Shockingly, his second and final appearance for the Foxes didn’t come until January 4, 2020, in an FA Cup game against Wigan Athletic, lasting 67 minutes.
After multiple loan spells, Benković left the club in January 2022 by mutual consent—meaning Leicester effectively lost their £13 million investment without any return.
What Happened to Filip Benković After Leicester?
Following his departure from Leicester, Benković joined Serie A side Udinese but made just two senior appearances before leaving on another free transfer in August 2024.
He remained without a club for several months before finally signing with Swedish club AIK on January 29, 2025.
Since joining AIK, the 27-year-old centre-back has already made three appearances, totaling 171 minutes—surpassing his entire playing time at Leicester.
Benković’s career trajectory serves as a cautionary tale for Leicester, reflecting the club’s long-standing struggles with recruitment.
As they fight for survival in the Premier League, such past mistakes continue to haunt them.
