Leicester City has confirmed that club legend Jamie Vardy will leave at the end of the season, bringing to a close an extraordinary 13-year spell that transformed both the striker’s career and the club’s fortunes.
Vardy, 38, joined Leicester in 2012 from non-league side Fleetwood Town for £1 million. Since then, he has cemented his place in football history, playing nearly 500 games and scoring close to 200 goals for the Foxes. His departure will mark the end of an era at the King Power Stadium.
“There is no other player more synonymous with the incredible successes achieved in that time,” read the club’s official statement. “Vardy’s achievements on Filbert Way are unrivalled throughout our 141-year history.”
The forward’s final appearance at the King Power Stadium will come on Sunday, May 18, against Ipswich Town, where he will bid an emotional farewell to the fans who watched his journey from a non-league hopeful to a Premier League icon.
Leicester City Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha paid tribute to Vardy’s legacy: “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.
“Although Jamie’s time with us as a player is ending, he and his family will always be welcomed back to King Power Stadium with open arms after all he has achieved. On behalf of everyone at Leicester City, I wish Jamie and his family the very best for the future and I know our supporters will join us in giving him the send-off he deserves at the end of this season,” he added.
Vardy’s Career at Leicester City
Vardy’s story includes Leicester’s miraculous escape from relegation in 2014/15 and the unforgettable Premier League title triumph in 2015/16, which remains one of the greatest sporting feats in modern history. That season, Vardy made global headlines with a record-breaking run of goals in 11 consecutive Premier League matches.
He also won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2019/20 with 23 goals, starred in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, and was named Premier League Player of the Season and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year during Leicester’s title-winning campaign.
Vardy confirmed the news via a personal message on his social media, marking the end of a legendary chapter not just for Leicester, but for English football.
As well as lifting two Championship titles with the Foxes – the most recent as captain and an entire decade after the first – Vardy has also helped us win our first-ever FA Cup in 2021. In doing so, he became the only player in history to have played in every round of the competition from the preliminary stages to the final – a testament to the hard work, dedication and talent that has seen him rise to the top of the game.
Jamie’s career with Leicester City and his unparalleled contributions will be celebrated in the build-up to our final home fixture of the season as we express our deepest gratitude to a true great of this Football Club.
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