Leicester City’s historic Premier League top scorer Jamie Vardy said his final game for the club would be “very sad” after he announced at the end of the season that he would leave the Foxes.
City captain Vardy, signed from Fleetwood Town, was one of the greatest sports shocks ever, when Leicester won the 2015/16 Top-Flight title and called himself “in trouble” when he announced his withdrawal before the Premier League trophy.
The 38-year-old striker scored 198 goals in 498 games, including 143 in the Premier League and helped Leicester win the 2020/21 FA Cup and 2014 and 2024 championships.
Vardy leaves Leicester: When is his last game?
In a message to Leicester fans, Vardy said the club “always have a place in my heart” but called the timing “right”.
“I spent 13 years incredible at this club and had a lot of success and some failures,” he reflected. “Most people are tall. It’s time to call it a day, and I’m shocked by that.”
Leicester has two home games left before Vardy leaves, facing Southampton on May 3 and Ipswich towns on May 18 (both 15:00 BST).
“[My last game will] He was a very sad day,” he told Leicester’s website. “It’s something I thought of and talked to my family. I think it’s time.
“The good thing is over. It will be one of those emotional days. Who knows the way to go? If you ask anyone, I’m not an emotional person.
“Nothing like me, but when you’ve been in somewhere for so long and it’s time to say goodbye, you never know what your personal reaction will be.”
Jamie Vardy Club: Leicester’s “Family”
Vardy was released by Sheffield on Wednesday, who spent time with Stocksbridge Park Steels before giving a name in Halifax Town.
After Fleetwood (which was a non-league then), Vardy joined Leicester for £1 million in May 2012. “For so long here, fans brought me in like I am their own,” he said.
“You always want to pay back…it’s a family. Fans have been sticking with it since I came here.
“It’s about the day of the game, the atmosphere is great. Then you also get those stubborn people who also travel in every away game.
“It’s really appreciated, it’s true. Nothing in the world is cheap these days, so for them, they’re spending money to support the club they love and fortunately it’s an incredible feeling over the past 13 seasons.”
Jamie Vardy statistics
According to Leicester’s own assessment, Vardy’s arrival is “silly at best, and the weirdest thing is the brand” – but his 16 goals helped the club return to the Premier League in the following season.
In the 2015/16 season, Leicester won 5,000/1 of the Premier League with 24 goals, the first of seven consecutive campaigns, with Vardy going to double-digits on top flights.
Vardy named his history LCFC XI pic.twitter.com/yw7hw2mwgg
— Leicester City (@LCFC) April 24, 2025
On November 28, 2015, Jamie Vardy broke the record for current Leicester manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy, scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League games, one against the team, and the Dutch achieved a feat for this.
Among his other highlights, Vardy helped Leicester reach the quarterfinals of the 2016/17 Champions League, 32 rounds of the 2020/21 Europa League and 2021/22 League semi-bonds.
Jamie Vardy’s goal: Premier League champion
Last season, Leicester won the championship, with seven goals and three assists in the Premier League this season, Vardy scored 20 goals, and only nine British players surpassed him.
Leicester was the second inning at the table and apologized to supporters on social media earlier this week and relegated to five games.
Jamie Vardy, Premier League, @LCFC icon. pic.twitter.com/2rrejz3b1k
– Premier League (@premierleague) April 24, 2025
“I have no words to express my feelings of anger and sadness,” he said. “No excuses.
“This season is just tragic, and for me personally, it’s totally embarrassing. It’s painful, and I know you feel it too.”
Leicester City: Vardy “special”
Leicester calls Vardy “the greatest player ever” and chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha describes the club’s highest third-place scorer as “unique”.
“He is a special player, even more special,” Srivaddhanaprabha said. “He has a place in the hearts of everyone involved in Leicester City.
“He certainly has my deepest respect and feelings. I’m very grateful for everything he has given this football club.”
143 – Jamie Vardy scored 143 Premier League goals for Leicester City; only Harry Kane (Totterham Hotspur 213), Sergio Agüero (184 for Manchester City) and Thierry Henry (175 for Arsenal) scored higher, with 100% of the individual club coming to score. icon. pic.twitter.com/tlybpqc5uw
– optajoe (@optajoe) April 24, 2025
Jamie Vardy England record
Vardy made her England debut in 2015, scoring seven goals in 26 international matches, including five in 10 matches in 2016.
Substitute Vardy beat Wales 2-1 in the 2016 Euro Cup and scored an equalizer in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, although he said he “would have helped if I had more time”.
“When you are selected, you want to play.” Vardy explained after manager Gareth Southgate tried to change his decision to retire after the game was over.
“If you compete in a week, club every week, you want to compete in England, too.
“And if it doesn’t happen, then for me personally, at this age, it’s better to spend this time at home with my family and train at my club to prepare for the next game after an international break.”
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