Leicester release 11 players days after season ends and one immediately joins EFL rival

Leicester City have confirmed the release of nearly a dozen players and one has already found a new club.

The Foxes revealed their retained list following their relegation from the Premier League.

In total, 11 players have been let go by the club following the expiry of their contracts.

This includes three senior pros and eight who were on junior contracts.

Jamie Vardy was one of those three, alongside goalkeepers Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen.

Vardy was given a huge send-off by the Foxes as the Premier League and FA Cup winner decided to move on following 500 games and 200 goals.

A Leicester statement read: “All three leave with the heartfelt thanks of everybody at Leicester City for their contributions during their time at King Power Stadium, as well as our best wishes for the next chapters in their careers.”

Iversen already has been announced as a signing by another Championship club – Preston.

The 6ft4in goalkeeper played 17 times for the Foxes but had multiple loan spells away from the club.

He had two separate spells at Preston and has now joined them permanently on a four-year deal.

He said: “I love it here. It’s the most I’ve been happy. Preston is where I’ve played my best football.

“Preston feels like home for me. Everyone around the club are good people and the fans too. I just love it here so it’s a no brainer for me to come back.”

As well as the three senior professionals, eight juniors have also been let go: Oliver Ewing, Harvey Godsmark-Ford, Ben Grist, Deniche Hill, Liam McAlinney, Arjan Raikhy, Joe Wormleighton and Brad Young.

It will likely be a summer of change for Leicester following their immediate relegation from the top flight.

Enzo Maresca led them to the top of the Championship in the 2023/24 season, before moving on to Chelsea.

His replacement, Steve Cooper, only lasted until November. Ruud van Nistelrooy was tasked with keeping the Foxes up but failed.

talkSPORT understands that Van Nistelrooy is set to be sacked by Leicester in the coming days.

The club are in advanced talks with former Southampton boss Russell Martin to take over.

This comes amid a backdrop of more allegations they have broken profit and sustainability rules when they were last in the Championship.

If found guilty, the Foxes could face a points deduction next season.

Leicester won an appeal against a previous charge aimed at them for the 2022/23 campaign when they were relegated to the Championship.