Jamie Vardy to Leave Leicester City After 13 Seasons and Foxes’ Relegation

Jamie Vardy’s Departure: The End of a Leicester City Era

When you think of Jamie Vardy and Leicester City, you probably picture that wild 2015-16 season: the 5000-1 underdogs lifting the Premier League trophy, thanks in no small part to Vardy’s relentless goal-scoring. Now, after 13 dramatic years, Vardy’s time with the Foxes is winding down. He’s set to leave at the close of the 2024-25 season, just as Leicester grapples with a brutal relegation from the Premier League. For many fans, this isn’t an ordinary goodbye—it’s the curtain call on a story few thought possible.

Vardy's journey from non-league football to global stardom is etched in Leicester’s DNA. Signing from Fleetwood Town in 2012, he turned skepticism into legendary status, breaking into the club's top scorer spot with 198 goals over 495 matches—143 of those in the highly competitive Premier League. He was never the flashy superstar, but his unbreakable spirit, hunger, and raw pace gave opponents and fans whiplash alike.

That 2016 title run? Vardy smashed in 24 goals, including a famous stretch where he scored in 11 consecutive games—a Premier League record at the time. Years later, he bagged crucial goals during Leicester’s FA Cup victory in 2021, reminding everyone why he’s been called Leicester’s “greatest-ever player.”

But things have changed. With Leicester slumping to 19th in the league under new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and relegation confirmed with five games left, Vardy’s last dance will be a tough one. His final appearance, fittingly enough, is set against Ipswich Town on May 18. Even as results dipped, there were no question marks about Vardy’s drive. At 38, he still chased lost causes and bullied opposition defenders—proof of the relentless work ethic that’s become his trademark.

Vardy called Leicester his 'second home,' admitting the decision to leave was ‘really difficult.’ The bond between player, club, and fans is one forged through shared triumphs and heartbreak. Leicester paid their own tribute, calling him a club symbol and praising his loyalty and never-say-die attitude—a throwback to the very values that made their title run possible.

Legacy, Loyalty, and What’s Next for Jamie Vardy?

If you ask Leicester supporters what they’ll remember, it’s not just the trophies—it’s the feeling that anything was possible while Vardy led the line. He’s been more than a record-breaker; he’s inspired underdogs everywhere. Van Nistelrooy, while still getting his feet under the manager’s desk, credited Vardy as the living emblem of the club’s refusal to accept limits, saying he embodies the Foxes’ spirit of fighting above their weight.

The reality is, this season has been tough. Both Leicester and Vardy experienced a sharp dip, with relegation sealing a rough chapter. But Vardy was never just about the high points. Even when goals dried up, he kept working, chasing, and pushing—a rare constant in a team suddenly facing big change.

For fans clinging to happier memories, there’s some comfort: Vardy isn’t retiring just yet. He’s made it clear he’ll keep playing, though the next badge he’ll wear is still a mystery. His Leicester legacy, though, is untouchable—two Championship titles, a Premier League miracle, an FA Cup, and that one-of-a-kind Vardy sneer after netting yet another goal. When you talk about the modern greats of English football, his name belongs in the conversation, not just for medals, but for belief—the idea that nobody should ever rule you out.