Vardy signs new contract with Leicester

Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy, 37, has signed a one-year contract extension to remain at King Power Stadium for a 13th season.

The legendary Leicester striker has played a huge part in the Foxes' success since his arrival from Fleetwood Town in 2012, scoring 136 Premier League goals, 24 of which came in Leicester's iconic title-winning season in 2015/16.

He also scored 18 goals last season as the club won the Championship and secured an immediate return to the top flight after their relegation in 2022/23.

"To get the numbers that I did [last season], I’m delighted with it, but there’s still more to come," Vardy told the club's official website.

"I look after myself. I’ve always said that age is just a number. My legs feel fine so that’s why I carry on until my legs say 'that’s it, game over'. There will be a day when that comes, but that’s not right now.
 
"We look forward to another season in the Premier League and seeing what we can do. One hundred per cent, it’s the best league in the world. That’s where you want to be playing your football."

Vardy's impact at Leicester

Vardy's total of 136 Premier League goals is the 15th-highest in Premier League history. He achieved that tally in only 307 appearances.

Top 15 Premier League scorers

His total tally is only one of a number of impressive achievements with the club.

In 2015/16 he broke the record for goals in consecutive matches, scoring in 11 matches in a row, with his final strike coming against Manchester United.

Vardy also won the EA SPORTS Player of the Season award that season, and the Golden Boot in 2019/20. 

His other club honours include the FA Cup, a trophy Leicester won for the first time in their history in 2020/21.

New deal for Vestergaard

Denmark centre-back Jannik Vestergaard has also put pen to paper on a new deal with Leicester as he extended his contract until the summer of 2027.

The 31-year-old former Southampton defender moved to the club in August 2021 and featured in 42 of their 46 matches in the Championship last season.

"With the football and my situation having developed in a positive way, I’m just very happy to be here," Vestergaard said on the club's website.

"It’s something that fills me with some sort of pride as well that I went through the lows and I continued to work. I’ve come out on the other side and shown a little bit more of what I can contribute."

Trio to depart

Leicester also announced that Marc Albrighton, Kelechi Iheanacho and Dennis Praet will depart upon the expiration of their contracts this month.

Like Vardy, Albrighton played a big part in the club's history. In their title-winning season he featured in all 38 of their matches, providing two goals and six assists.

In his 14 top-flight seasons, the 34-year-old made 310 Premier League appearances across his time with Leicester and with Aston Villa. Albrighton also scored the club's first ever UEFA Champions League goal, netting against Club Brugge in 2016/17.

Iheanacho joined from Manchester City in August 2017 and scored 61 goals in all competitions for the Foxes.

Praet, meanwhile, made 107 appearances for the club after his arrival from Serie A side Sampdoria in August 2019.