Jamie Vardy ‘devastated’ to be leaving Leicester as Foxes announce exit of ‘biggest ever participant’
Leicester Metropolis all-time Premier League prime scorer Jamie Vardy has stated his closing match for the membership shall be “actually unhappy” after asserting he’ll depart the Foxes on the finish of the season.
Metropolis captain Vardy, who signed from Fleetwood City and was integral to one of many biggest sporting shocks of all time when Leicester gained the 2015/16 top-flight title, described himself as “gutted” whereas asserting his exit in entrance of the Premier League trophy.
The 38-year-old striker has scored 198 targets in 498 appearances, together with 143 within the Premier League, in addition to serving to Leicester win the 2020/21 FA Cup and the Championship in 2014 and 2024.
Vardy leaving Leicester: When is his final recreation?
Within the message to Leicester followers, Vardy stated the membership would “at all times, at all times have an enormous place in my coronary heart” however referred to as the timing “proper”.
“I’ve spent 13 unbelievable years at this membership, with a number of success and a few downs,” he mirrored. “The bulk have all been highs. It’s lastly time to name it a day, which I’m devastated about it.”
Leicester have two residence video games remaining earlier than Vardy’s departure, dealing with Southampton on Could 3 and Ipswich City on Could 18 (each 15:00 BST).
“[My last game will] be a very unhappy day,” he informed Leicester’s web site. “It’s one thing that I’ve considered and spoken about with my household. I believe it’s time.
“Good issues come to an finish. It’s going to be a kind of emotional days. Who is aware of which means that may go? In case you ask anybody, I’m probably not an emotional man.
“Nothing like that ever comes throughout with me however, once you’ve been someplace for therefore lengthy and it’s time to say goodbye, you simply by no means know what your private response goes to be.”
Jamie Vardy golf equipment: Leicester ‘household’
Having been launched by Sheffield Wednesday as a young person, Vardy frolicked with Stocksbridge Park Steels earlier than making his title at Halifax City.
After a prolific interval at Fleetwood – then a non-league aspect – Vardy joined Leicester for £1 million in Could 2012. “Being right here so lengthy, the followers took me in like I used to be one in every of their very own,” he stated.
“You at all times wish to repay that… it’s household. The followers have, ever since I’ve been right here, caught with us by means of thick and skinny.
“It involves recreation days, and the environment’s nice. And then you definately get the die-hard ones who’re travelling to each single away recreation as nicely.
“It’s actually appreciated, it truly is. Nothing on this planet today is affordable, so for them to be spending their cash to again the membership they love and, thankfully for myself, being concerned in that for the entire previous 13 seasons, it’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Jamie Vardy stats
By Leicester’s personal evaluation, Vardy’s arrival was “branded as foolhardy at greatest, unusual at worst” – however his 16 targets helped the membership return to the Premier League the next season.
A 24-goal complete in that exceptional 2015/16 season, when Leicester had been 5,000/1 to win the Premier League, was the primary of seven successive campaigns by which Vardy would hit double figures within the prime flight.
Vardy names his all-time LCFC XI 👀 pic.twitter.com/yW7Hw2MwGG
— Leicester Metropolis (@LCFC) April 24, 2025
On November 28 2015, Jamie Vardy broke present Leicester supervisor Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s report by scoring in 11 straight Premier League video games with one towards the staff for whom the Dutchman achieved the feat, Manchester United.
Amongst his litany of different highlights, Vardy helped Leicester attain the 2016/17 Champions League quarter-finals, the 2020/21 Europa League spherical of 32 and the 2021/22 Convention League semi-finals.
Jamie Vardy targets: Championship to Premier League
Vardy scored 20 targets final season as Leicester gained the Championship and has seven targets and three assists on this season’s Premier League, with solely 9 English gamers outscoring him.
Leicester are second-bottom of the desk and had been relegated with 5 video games to spare, inflicting Vardy to apologise to supporters on social media earlier this week.
Jamie Vardy, a Premier League and @LCFC icon. pic.twitter.com/2rREJz3b1K
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 24, 2025
“No phrases I’ve can ever categorical my emotions of anger and unhappiness with the best way this season has gone,” he stated. “There aren’t any excuses.
“This season has been nothing however depressing and for me personally, a complete embarrassment. It hurts and I do know you’re feeling it too.”
Leicester Metropolis: Vardy ‘particular’
Leicester referred to as Vardy their “biggest ever participant”, with chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha describing the membership’s all-time third-highest scorer as “distinctive”.
“He’s a particular participant and an much more particular individual,” stated Srivaddhanaprabha. “He holds a spot within the hearts of everybody linked to Leicester Metropolis.
“He definitely has my deepest respect and affection. I’m endlessly grateful for all the things he has given to this soccer membership.”
143 – Jamie Vardy has scored 143 Premier League targets for Leicester Metropolis; solely Harry Kane (213 for Tottenham Hotspur), Sergio Agüero (184 for Manchester Metropolis), and Thierry Henry (175 for Arsenal) have scored extra with 100% coming for a single membership. Icon. pic.twitter.com/tLYBPQC5uW
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 24, 2025
Jamie Vardy England report
An England debutant in 2015, Vardy scored seven targets in 26 worldwide appearances, together with 5 in 10 video games in 2016.
Substitute Vardy scored England’s equaliser of their 2-1 win over Wales at Euro 2016 and was a part of the squad on the Fifa 2018 World Cup, though he stated he “might have helped a bit extra if I had extra minutes” after a short look from the bench within the semi-final defeat to Croatia.
“Once you get chosen, you wish to be taking part in,” Vardy defined after supervisor Gareth Southgate tried to alter his choice to retire from worldwide soccer after the match.
“In case you’re taking part in week in, week out on your membership, you wish to be going to England to play as nicely.
“And if it’s not occurring, then for me personally now, at this age, it’s higher to be at residence, spending that point with my household and coaching with my membership, getting ready for the following recreation after the worldwide break.”
