JAMIE VARDY says it was an easy decision to sign a contract extension which will keep him at Leicester until the summer of 2024.
The 35-year-old former England striker has been linked to a move to Manchester United in recent days, but admits he did not have to think twice about putting pen to paper after a decade at the King Power Stadium.
He told LCFC TV: “I’m obviously over the moon. Once I heard it was something the club was looking at, there was only one thing that was going to happen, and I was going to sign it. The decision was easy.
“I’ve been here long enough now that I feel like part of the furniture. I think you can see with the way we’re trying to play, the way the club’s wanting to go, that it’s going to be onwards and upwards.
“To carry on being involved with that, I was over the moon. Now it’s all about this season and finishing as high as we can.
“My legs are still feeling great so I’ll carry that on helping the club as much as I can, whether that’s scoring or assisting, that’s what I’m here to do.”
Vardy has been a key figure in Leicester’s rise to prominence after joining the club from then non-league Fleetwood for £1 million (€1.2 million) in May 2012.
He has since made 387 appearances for the club and scored 164 goals in all competitions.
16 of those goals came as the Foxes won promotion to the top flight in 2014 and he plundered 24 in all competitions, including 11 in consecutive Premier League games to break Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record, two seasons later as the club stunned the football world by lifting the title.
He helped Leicester reach the Champions League quarter-finals during the following season and became the oldest winner of the Premier League’s Golden Boot in 2019-20 after finding the back of the net on 23 occasions.
An FA Cup and Community Shield winner, Vardy also made 26 appearances for England and scored seven goals before announcing his retirement from international football in 2018.
Refreshing to be honest. Got to respect a guy who puts his family first.
I suspect there’s more behind this decision. He’s 32 – so unlikely to feature at another world cup – plus considering how England demolished the 2nd ranked team in the world in the 6 Nations, you’d have to rank them as amongst pre-tournament favourites. Loss for England – gain for us.
@Juniper: Hon De pool
I don’t know the exact details here but something doesn’t add up. The England camp would always allow for somebody’s personal circumstances like birth of a child. Either there is complications (hopefully not and all the best) or he’s had a falling out with somebody which is prob quite likely given his personality/past.
@Andy Dwyer: Quick question when you say it’s likely he’s had a falling out with someone given his personality/past I’m guessing you know the guy personally and aren’t just basing that on what you see on tv. Because by all accounts he’s a lovely fella off the field. He should be commended for supporting his wife rather than have people jump to conclusions.
@Eddie Hekenui: Ashton said on a podcast recently enough that Eddie Jones wasn’t in contact with him and that he got the impression he was being dropped. This may not have anything to do with him withdrawing from the squad but it’s interesting to note
@Sam Ahern: Fair play to him but I’d say he’s got the impression from Eddie that he’s only making up the numbers being involved in the extended squad.
Or maybe he’s pulling out of camp to look after his pregnant wife like he says he is.
@Eddie Hekenui: I don’t mean to questions his motives, he seems to be really decent guy and to withdraw from the camp for his wife even if he was just making the numbers says a lot about his character
He’s a great player and I’m gutted he won’t be there.
A real family man and you have to admire his stance.
When he came back from France it was all over the place he came back to play in the World Cup:: his wife getting pregnant is something you plan for normally. We all knew when the pre WC sessions were going to start and no doubt he knew ::
My opinion was that he felt he was only in for the numbers and he would much more want to be with his family, then taking that chance.
But this is a Rugby Page so we make some crazy interpations and this is only IMO
so don’t give out to me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!