Jamie Vardy will leave already-relegated Leicester City this summer after 13 years at the club, but has no plans to retire from football.
Vardy departs as the club’s greatest-ever player after he scored 24 goals in their 2015/16 Premier League title-winning season under Claudio Ranieri and lifted the FA Cup in 2021 with Brendan Rodgers in charge.
The 38-year-old said he is “gutted” to be leaving in a parting message to Leicester fans.
“I’ve had 13 unbelievable years at this club with lots of success, some downs but a majority, all highs, but it’s finally time to call it a day, which I’m devastated about but I think the timing is right,” said Vardy.
“I just want to sincerely thank you all for taking me in as one of your own. Leicester will always, always have a massive place in my heart and I’ll make sure that I will be following for the years to come and what I hope will be even more successful for the club. But as for now, this is my goodbye but you will see me again soon, I promise. Thank you.”
The announcement of his exit comes just days after the striker apologised to supporters for a “total embarrassment” of a season that has seen the Foxes relegated back to the Championship.
A statement on lcfc.com read: “We can confirm legendary striker Jamie Vardy will leave Leicester City this summer after 13 seasons that have seen him become our greatest-ever player.”
The 38-year-old has made 496 appearances since joining Leicester from Fleetwood Town in 2012 and has been a crucial figure in Leicester’s most successful period in the club’s history after promotion to the Premier League in 2014.
Vardy’s legacy at Leicester stretches beyond silverware, with the Great Escape under Nigel Pearson in 2015 and reaching the Champions League quarter-finals under the late Craig Shakespeare figuring as his most notable achievements.
He also scored 18 goals as the Foxes were crowned Championship winners last season, but has only managed seven in the Premier League this term.
Leicester’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday confirmed their immediate return to the second tier, meaning they have been relegated from the Premier League in two of the past three seasons.
Leicester chairman 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.”
‘Vardy epitomises loyalty and longevity’
Sky Sports’ Adam Bate:
There are some wonderful players in English football right now but how many can claim to be the greatest in their club’s history? Jamie Vardy was a symbol of Leicester’s title triumph of 2016, scoring 24 Premier League goals, but he represented so much more.
N’Golo Kante was outstanding but he had not been part of the team promoted from the Championship. Riyad Mahrez had but by 2018 he had gone too. Vardy not only stayed but won the Golden Boot in 2020 and was part of the team that won the FA Cup in 2021.
Vardy just seemed to keep going and going, even scoring 18 goals in lifting the club back up from the Championship last year. What began as a Cinderella story became a tale of loyalty and longevity too, still leading the line for Leicester at 38, still rustling opponents.
Those antagonistic celebrations aggravated supporters of other clubs, and there have been unsavoury moments away from the pitch too. But there was a reason for Vardy’s popularity, why he was cheered on with England at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.
His story resonated because Vardy brought a raw enthusiasm to the pitch that is rarely seen at Premier League level. It was as if he had come directly from Stocksbridge Park Steels, the Northern Premier League team that he was still playing for at the age of 23.
That extraordinary pace, those finishes fired low into the corner, and the guile that he added to his game, marked him out as something special. Only Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane have scored more Premier League goals than Vardy over the past decade.
A season too far? Maybe. But Vardy has escaped much of the criticism for Leicester’s plight this season. Plenty would have gladly seen him continue, believing he could still deliver in the second tier. The point is moot now. He leaves as a legend. And a one-off.
‘Leicester’s greatest-ever player’
Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett:
Leicester’s greatest ever player, Jamie Vardy, will play only five more games for the club.
We knew that his contract was due to expire at the end of the season. We know he’s got a great relationship with the owner and they’ve been talking personally about what he wants to do.
It’s been made clear to me that Leicester left this in Vardy’s hands. It’s Vardy’s decision that he no longer wants to continue at the club.
He feels that he still has a point to prove and prove the doubters wrong and that he still has a great deal to offer in the Premier League so has no plans to retire from football.
It brings to an end a glittering relationship between Vardy and Leicester that saw them crowned Premier League champions in 2016… I don’t say it lightly when I say he’s Leicester’s greatest-ever player because that’s what all the fans tell me and what everyone connected with the club believes.
It’s 13 years and almost 500 matches. We use the term ‘legend’ a lot, but in Leicester and football terms, he is a legend.
He’s still Leicester’s leading goalscorer this season and involved in 50 per cent of their goals in what has been a dreadful season for them, being relegated to the Championship.
I think his agents will be very busy now talking to Premier League clubs to see if they would like a very experienced, if not ageing, Premier League striker, maybe to come off the bench and have an impact, but certainly to add leadership qualities and something of an inspiration.
I don’t think you can overestimate the character of the man and how important he is in a dressing room. He’s often seen as a joker and he is, he’s very light-hearted and is laughing and joking around even in the most significant of moments.
But he’s very much a leader and he called this season “an utter embarrassment” as far as Leicester’s performances went – and that shows you how much he cares about the club.
I know this was a very difficult decision for him to make. He could’ve potentially signed a new contract at Leicester and there were talks to that end, but it’s then that Vardy made it clear that with them going down to the Championship, now was probably the time for him to move on and let Leicester have a fresh start.
It’s terrible news for Leicester fans. They’ve had a terrible season to endure, they’ve been relegated for the second time in three years and now they hear they’re going to have their greatest ever player on the pitch for only five more games.
It underlines was a huge period of change and flux it is at Leicester.
Van Nistelrooy’s future takes back seat with Vardy leaving
Sky Sports News’ Peter Smith:
The news Jamie Vardy will be leaving Leicester this summer after 13 years dominated Ruud van Nistelrooy’s press conference. One great Premier League striker discussing another.
Van Nistelrooy explained how he had a long conversation with his club captain about Vardy’s incredible journey from non-league to the top of the game. He also highlighted Vardy’s love for Leicester – a notable point in a week in which Vardy has also slammed the performances of the club on their way to relegation this season.
As a result of that abject form in the Premier League, Van Nistelrooy’s own future is in the spotlight. He says he has mapped out his plan to get the club back on track to the chairman and the board. While he awaits clarity on that situation his focus is now on delivering a positive finish to the season amid the celebrations for Vardy’s Leicester career.
