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Jamie Vardy, Leicester City's captain and long-serving striker, will leave the club at the end of the season, though he intends to continue his playing career. Announcing the news on Thursday, Leicester City hailed Vardy as "our greatest ever player." The 38-year-old joined the Foxes in 2012 from non-league side Fleetwood Town.
He is the club's record Premier League scorer with 143, and in all competitions has scored 198 goals in 498 appearances. Vardy scored 24 times in the 2015-16 Premier League campaign, helping Leicester to the first ever top-flight title in their history.
The former England international was also part of their 2021 FA Cup-winning side, when the Foxes beat Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley.
"To the fans of Leicester, I'm gutted that this day is coming, but I knew it was going to come eventually," Vardy said in a video posted by Leicester on social media.
He added: "This isn't retirement. I want to keep on playing and doing what I enjoy most - scoring goals.
Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy said Vardy had stuck with the club "through thick and thin", adding: "He has achieved everything and now can go and enjoy these last years with his family.
Vardy described the club's season as "miserable" and a "total embarrassment" after the Foxes were relegated earlier this month.
Leicester, 5,000-1 outsiders at the start of the season, went on to win their first ever top-flight title as they were crowned Premier League champions in 2015-16 under the management of Claudio Ranieri.
Vardy was named the Premier League Player of the Season after scoring 24 times in 36 appearances.
He was the winner of the Premier League Golden Boot in 2019-20 with 23 goals.
The forward became the first player in FA Cup history to appear in 13 of the 14 rounds of the competition when he played in the 2021 FA Cup final as the Foxes, managed by Brendan Rodgers, lifted the trophy for the first time in their history.
Vardy remained with the Foxes after their relegation from the Premier League in 2023.
Vardy has featured in 31 of the east Midlands club's 33 Premier League matches this term, scoring seven times.
Leicester are 19th in the table, having collected 18 points from their 33 matches.
