According to Leeds Live, Leeds United winger Okafor recently discussed his move from AC Milan to the club last summer on the official club podcast. He admitted that he initially hesitated about the transfer because Leeds United had just been promoted to the Premier League, but manager Daniel Farke and the club's senior management eventually won him over with their future plans presented via video conference. Additionally, teammate Calvert-Lewin also proactively contacted him, persuading him to join Leeds United.
It is understood that Leeds United's recruitment team prepares personalized introductory materials for each potential transfer target, which include videos of the club's history, footage of the celebration parade after their promotion to the Premier League, and the team's long-term development plan and the role the new signing would play in it.
Okafor stated that he had already felt the club's massive fanbase last summer when he played against Leeds United for AC Milan in a pre-season friendly in Dublin. However, what truly made him decide was a video conference with Leeds United's senior management a few days later.
Okafor said: "At that time, I received several offers, some from the Premier League and others from clubs in other parts of the world. I had some discussions with my agent because I was told that the Milan coach wanted me to stay."
"We played a game against Leeds United in Dublin. I remember they had already contacted my agent a week or two before that. But I didn't think much of it at the time; I just tried to perform my best on the pitch and focus on the game."
"After the game in Dublin, we went to London because we had another match against Chelsea the next day. After playing Chelsea, we had three days off."
"So I stayed in London and hung out with friends. During that time, my agent called me almost every hour. One time I was out for dinner, and he called again."
"He told me that coach Farke wanted to talk to me. Subsequently, Leeds United's senior management held a video conference with me via Zoom, introducing me to the club's history, development plans for the next few years, and various other aspects. That meeting really impressed me."
Speaking about his initial concerns about joining Leeds United, Okafor said: "Then I thought, why not? At first, you're playing for Milan, and although Leeds United is also a big club, they had just been promoted at the time."
"So it's inevitable to have some hesitation, as they might get relegated back to the Championship, you know? But later, everything became clear to me. They told me that the club had also completed some other signings. The coach had a clear plan for how to use me, and he spoke to me personally, which made me feel very good."
"So I told my agent to let me sleep on it and think it over. After that, I made my decision. I felt good, and my gut told me that Leeds United was the right club for me."
In addition to the persuasion from the club's senior management and Farke, Calvert-Lewin also played a role in Okafor's transfer.
The forward joined Leeds United earlier than Okafor, and the two have now developed a very close friendship. Okafor revealed that even before he officially signed, Calvert-Lewin had proactively contacted him, hoping he would join.
Speaking about their relationship, Okafor said: "Off the pitch, we often joke around. My relationship with him is very good, both on and off the field."
"He was very happy about my arrival. I remember he signed about a week before me. When he heard that I might transfer to Leeds United, he kept telling me: 'Sign, sign!'"
"So we had many pleasant conversations. This is also an important reason why I can maintain good form both on and off the pitch. We get along very well, and that helps me a lot."
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