Jamie Vardy will leave Leicester City at the end of the season after a legendary 13-year spell, but the 38-year-old striker has made it clear he is not hanging up his boots just yet
Widely regarded as Leicester’s greatest-ever player, Vardy played a crucial role in the club’s astonishing Premier League title win in 2016 and their FA Cup triumph in 2021.
He signed a one-year contract extension last summer following the club’s promotion from the Championship, but the current season has been a struggle. Leicester have already been relegated, with five games left to play, and Vardy recently described his own campaign as a “total embarrassment” while apologizing to fans.
In an emotional farewell message posted on social media, Vardy said: “I have been here so long that I truly thought it would never end. This has not only been really difficult for me to write but also a really difficult decision to make. Leicester City has been my second home, my extended family, my life for 13 years.”
He added: “We did the impossible—winning the league—and I’ve got memories to last a lifetime. From trophies to Champions League nights to escaping relegation, it’s been an incredible journey.”
Vardy joined Leicester in 2012 from non-league Fleetwood Town for £1 million and went on to become an England international and one of the Premier League’s top forwards. He has scored 198 goals in 435 appearances for the Foxes, and in the 2019-20 season, became the oldest player to win the Premier League Golden Boot at age 33. He netted 18 league goals during Leicester’s promotion campaign and has scored seven this season.
Though stepping away from Leicester, Vardy insists he’s not done yet. “I want to keep playing and doing what I enjoy most—scoring goals,” he said. “I might be 38 but I’ve still got the desire and ambition to achieve so much more.” He’s believed to be attracting interest from Major League Soccer clubs in the United States.
Vardy also paid tribute to his teammates from the unforgettable 2016 season, as well as to Nigel Pearson, the manager who gave him his shot at professional football. “Thanks also to all the other managers, coaches, and staff who have helped me and, in some cases, put up with me,” he added.
Leicester, now 19th in the Premier League with just 18 points from 33 matches, have lost 16 of their last 18 games under Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is not expected to remain in charge next season.
Club 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. I am endlessly grateful for everything he has given to this football club.”
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