Dominic Calvert-Lewin noticed something about Leeds United's Noah Okafor before anyone else | OneFootball

Dominic Calvert-Lewin quickly spotted both the flaw and the upside in Leeds United’s Noah Okafor, and this season has largely borne it out.

“I remember it well, I think he signed a week after me. The season had just started. I remember his first sessions, his feet were so quick. That’s the first thing I remember, he was so quick and explosive and thinking, he has a lot of ability. It took him a couple of weeks to get used to a different tempo, the environment. He would dribble when it wasn’t the time to dribble, but he adjusted. He flourished. This season has all come together for him.” Calvert-Lewin told Okafor’s YouTube channel.

One early-season reminder came at Molineux, where Okafor lost the ball attempting to dribble out of trouble and Wolves scored the opener.

The data points to adaptation. Okafor is outperforming his xG, sits in the 96th percentile for goals per 90 minutes and the 98th for dribbles attempted, and he now picks his moments more selectively.

His selection for Switzerland’s 2026 World Cup squad underlines the shift in reputation. Taken together, his output and status suggest Calvert-Lewin recognised the player Okafor could become before most.

Source: Leedsunited.news