Jamie Vardy to leave Leicester at end of the season

Leicester City legend and former England international striker Jamie Vardy is to leave the club this summer after 13 years.

After signing from non-league Fleetwood Town in 2012, the 38-year-old has scored 198 goals in 496 appearances for Leicester, but will always be remembered for his role in the club's Premier League title win in 2015-16, scoring 24 goals in 38 games as the club pulled off arguably the biggest upset in English football history.

Jamie Vardy (L) of England vies with Domagoj Vida of Croatia during the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final match between England and Croatia in Moscow, Russia, July 11, 2018. Croatia won 2-1 and advanced to the final. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

At the age of 33, in 2019-20 he scored 23 goals to become the oldest player to win the Premier League Golden Boot.

Vardy also netted seven goals in 26 appearances for the England national team.

He has scored seven goals this season as Leicester has failed to avoid relegation back to the Championship, a situation he described as a "total embarrassment" earlier this week.

"I have been here so long that I truly thought it would never end," said Vardy.

"This has not only been really difficult for me to write but also a really difficult decision to make. Leicester City has been my second home, my extended family, my life for 13 years. The club, the city, the people, means so much to me and my family," added the striker, who added that he will not be retiring just yet.

"I want to keep playing and doing what I enjoy doing most, scoring goals. Hopefully there is one or two more for Leicester between now and the end of the season, and many more in the future. I might be 38, but I've still got the desire and ambition to achieve so much more," Vardy concluded.