Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy will leave the club at the end of the season, bringing an end to a remarkable 13-year spell that saw him transform from a non-league hopeful into a Premier League champion and club icon.
The already-relegated Foxes confirmed the 38-year-old’s departure on Thursday, hailing Vardy as the “greatest-ever player” in a heartfelt statement.
Vardy, who joined Leicester from Fleetwood Town in 2012, has scored 198 goals in 495 appearances, helping deliver some of the most historic moments in the club’s history, including their 2016 Premier League title win — defying 5000-1 odds — and their first-ever FA Cup triumph in 2021.
“I’ve been here so long that I truly never thought it would end, so this has not only been really difficult for me to write but also a really difficult decision to make,” Vardy said in a video posted on his social media.
“Leicester City has been my second home and my extended family and my life for 13 years. The club, the city, the people mean so much to me and my family.”
Though Leicester’s 2024/25 campaign ended in disappointment with relegation confirmed and just 18 points earned, Vardy still managed to net seven goals this season.
His final match for the Foxes will come on May 18 against Ipswich Town.
Importantly, Vardy stressed that he is not retiring and plans to continue his playing career elsewhere.
“This isn’t retirement. I want to keep playing and doing what I enjoy most: Scoring goals,” he said.
“I might be 38 but I still have the desire and ambition to achieve so much more.”
Jamie Vardy scored 143 goals and provided 47 assists in 338 Premier League appearances and cost Leicester just £1 million.
