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Jamie Vardy will depart Leicester City at the close of the 2024/25 season, ending a storied 13-year chapter that transformed him from non-league unknown to Premier League icon, the club confirmed on Thursday.
The 37-year-old striker, whose 181 goals in 460 appearances cemented his status as Leicester's record goalscorer, shared an emotional video message to fans, calling time on a career that defied all odds.
"It's been a crazy journey," Vardy said in the club's release. "I've given everything for this club, and the love I've felt here will stay with me forever."
Leicester signed Vardy from Fleetwood Town in 2012 for one million pounds, a then-record for a non-league player. After a tough debut season in the Championship, he powered the Foxes to promotion in 2014 and, against all expectations, to the Premier League title in 2015/16.
His 24 goals that season, including a record-breaking streak of scoring in 11 consecutive matches, drove Claudio Ranieri's 5000-1 underdogs to one of football's greatest triumphs.
"Every step up, I worked to prove I belonged," Vardy once said, reflecting on his rise from Stocksbridge Park Steels to the Premier League's summit.
His 136 Premier League goals rank him 14th all-time, ahead of legends like Didier Drogba, while his 2019/20 Golden Boot at age 33 made him the oldest player to claim the award.
Leicester's statement hailed Vardy as "the embodiment of our fairy tale," adding, "His journey from non-league to champion is football folklore."
The club also teased future plans, noting on X that Vardy will take on an ambassadorial role post-retirement, ensuring his connection to the King Power endures.
Though his minutes dwindled under Enzo Maresca during Leicester's Championship-winning campaign last season, Vardy's clutch goals and leadership remained vital.
Former manager Brendan Rodgers praised his selflessness, saying, "Jamie's work rate and pressing set him apart. He's not just a goalscorer - he creates, he fights. His journey to the top at 27 is unique."
Vardy's 26 England caps and seven international goals capped a career that inspired a generation. As fans prepare to bid farewell, posts on X from supporters echoed the sentiment of Rodgers' words: "Vardy isn't just a player; he's Leicester's heart."
The Foxes' greatest-ever player leaves as a champion, a record-breaker, and a symbol of what's possible in football's unpredictable theatre.
