Leicester City announced that Jamie Vardy, the former England national team striker, will leave the club at the end of the current season after 13 years.

Vardy, who joined Leicester City in 2012 for £1 million from Fleetwood Town, played 496 matches for the club, scoring 190 goals, becoming one of the greatest scorers in the 141-year history of the club. He played a key role in Leicester City’s legendary Premier League title win in 2016, where he broke Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record by scoring in 11 consecutive matches.

During his time, Vardy achieved great honors with Leicester City, including winning the Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield, and two Championship titles, marking the golden era of the club.

Last season, he scored 18 goals, playing a crucial role in Leicester City’s Championship win and return to the Premier League. However, this season, he has only scored 7 league goals. Leicester City was relegated to the Championship after a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, with Vardy describing this season as “embarrassing.”

The club announced that Vardy’s last match at King Power Stadium will be on May 18 against Ipswich Town, where he will bid farewell to the fans.

The statement read: “No player has been more synonymous with the incredible success of this period in Leicester City’s history than Jamie Vardy. He went from an unknown player in the lower leagues to one of the greatest goalscorers in Premier League history.”

Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, chairman of Leicester City, said about Vardy: “Jamie is unique; a special player and a very special person. He holds a unique place in all our hearts and is deeply respected and appreciated for everything he has given to this club. Although his playing days at Leicester City are coming to an end, he and his family will always be welcomed with open arms at King Power. On behalf of everyone at the club, I wish Jamie and his family the very best, and I know the fans will give him a fitting farewell at the end of the season.”