Leicester defender Filip Benkovic joins Belgian side OH Leuven on loan for the rest of the season

Leicester defender Filip Benkovic has joined Belgian side OH Leuven on loan until the end of the season, the Premier League club have announced.

Croatia centre back Benkovic has made two senior appearances for the Foxes since arriving from Dinamo Zagreb in August 2018.

The 23-year-old’s latest loan move, which is subject to international clearance, follows spells with Celtic, Bristol City and Cardiff. 

Leicester City defender Filip Benkovic is joining Belgian side OH Leuven on a season loan

He spent the first half of this campaign with the Bluebirds but was restricted to just one Sky Bet Championship outing.

Benkovic, who has been capped once by his country, started Leicester’s 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Wigan last January and he made his debut as a substitute in a 4-0 Carabao Cup success over Fleetwood shortly after joining the club.

Leuven and Leicester are both owned by King Power International Group.

The Belgian club, who sit fourth in the Jupiler Pro League, last week signed former Foxes midfielder Andy King. 

Former Leicester midfielder Andy King will help the Croatian centre back settle in at Leuven

The new deal awarded to Jonny Evans, which will now run until 2023, delivered a further blow Benkovic’s hopes of finally making his top-flight bow for Leicester. 

Leicester are looking to add another centre back and a forward while they are looking to offload Demarai Gray and will listen to loan offers for Hamza Choudhury. 

West Brom and Newcastle have asked about the 23-year-old Choudhury but Leicester would want a loan fee and assurances that he will play.