Jamie Vardy is to leave Leicester City at the end of the season, after 13 years with the club. The 38-year-old, regarded one of Leicester’s greatest players, was central to the club winning the Premier League against all odds in 2016 and the FA Cup in 2021.
Vardy signed a 12-month extension last summer after promotion as champions from the Championship but this campaign has been a struggle. This week he apologised to the supporters after relegation was confirmed with five games to play and described his own season as a “total embarrassment”.
Vardy’s story is one of the most famous in the modern era, the player having joined Leicester from non-league Fleetwood for £1m in 2012 and gone on to cement himself as an England international and one of the best strikers in the Premier League. He has scored 198 goals in 435 appearances for Leicester.
Quick Guide
How do I sign up for sport breaking news alerts?
Show
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for ‘The Guardian’.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
In 2019-20, aged 33, Vardy became the oldest player to win the Premier League Golden Boot. He scored 18 league goals as the club won promotion last season and has scored seven in this campaign.
Leicester, who visit Wolves on Saturday, are 19th in the Premier League after taking 18 points from 33 matches. They have lost 16 of their past 18 matches under Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is unlikely to lead the club next season.
Leicester’s chair, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, said: “Jamie is unique. He is a special player and an even more special person. He holds a place in the hearts of everyone connected to Leicester City, and he certainly has my deepest respect and affection. I am endlessly grateful for everything he has given to this football club.”