Leicester exit not Jamie Vardy’s decision: ‘Tried to get rid of him for years’
Jamie Vardy’s exit from Leicester comes as no surprise as the club have apparently “been trying to get rid” of the striker for years.
The Foxes arrived back in the Premier League after a year in the Championship and turned to their legendary striker to help them survive.
The Midlands side looked to be in a good position to maintain their top-flight status, sitting 16th in the table after 12 matches.
However, after being criticised behind closed doors by Leicester’s playing staff, Steve Cooper was sacked and summarily replaced by Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Since then, the Foxes have won just two Premier League games and after relegation was confirmed following a 1-0 loss to Liverpool, Vardy announced his decision to leave Leicester at the end of the season.
However, according to Troy Deeney and Alex Crook, that decision may not have been made by the former England international himself, despite appearances.
Leicester wanted rid of Jamie Vardy ‘for about six years’
Following news of Vardy’s impending departure, Crook revealed he had been told that Vardy may in fact not have been offered a new contract.
TalkSPORT‘s chief football correspondent said (25 April, 10.11am): “I know Leicester are sort of suggesting it was Jamie’s decision and it was the right time to leave the football club.
“It was mentioned to me in the pressroom on Sunday that maybe he hadn’t been offered a contract.
“Would that surprise you if that is the case?”
Ex-Watford striker Deeney replied: “No, because I think they’ve been trying to get rid of Jamie for about six years, so I don’t think they would.
“I think every single time, that’s why I said, underdog story, because every single time they try and get rid of him, he proves time and time again that they need him.”
Jamie Vardy exit from Leicester a surprise with club heading for Championship
Football Insider Verdict
Having joined the club 13 years ago from Fleetwood Town, Vardy will leave Leicester as the club’s top goal-scorer in the Premier League era.
He is also the last remaining player from their historic 2016 title win, marking the end of an era for the Foxes.
In more recent history, Vardy is clearly not the force he once was. The striker scored just three goals in the 2022/23 season when the club was relegated.
| 2024/25 Premier League stats | Vardy |
| Appearances | 31 |
| Starts | 31 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Minutes | 2,494 |
However, as he always does, the 38-year-old bounced back this year scoring a respectable seven goals in a truly miserable Leicester side.
What’s surprising is that with the club heading back to the Championship, they have chosen to part ways with their legendary striker.
Vardy scored 18 goals in England’s second-tier to guide the Foxes to an immediate return to the Premier League.
Leicester look like a side without a plan currently, unsure of who will be managing the club next season and will now have to add finding a new striker, and talisman, to their to-do list this summer.