Vardy Signs New Deal

The big talk across the Premier League a couple of weeks ago was the imminent transfer of Jamie Vardy from champions Leicester to runners-up Arsenal. A £20million buy-out clause seemed enough to land the 29-year-old but his loyalty would not be jaded. A rumoured £140,000-a-week offer from the Gunners attempted to lure the quick, sharp finisher but it was not to be, much to the delight of almost all football fans. The story of Leicester City may now carry on into next season with Mahrez and Kante still not finding a transfer away, and a Champions League campaign with Leicester may just be exactly what they hope for and with Vardy signing a new deal, it could lead the way for the rest to do the same.

From £30 to £100,000

Vardy started his career earning a mere £30-a-week at Stocksbridge Park Steels after being released at his boyhood and the club he supports, Sheffield Wednesday. His rise to Premier glory took some time however, as in 2010, at the age of 23, he found himself at Halifax Town, where in the one full season he was there, helped the side to the title and finish as the the clubs top scorer with 26 goals. That was enough to tempt a new side, Fleetwood Town. Again Vardy only spent a year at the club due to much attraction from new clubs. Blackpool noticed his impressive goal-scoring record at non-league level but a bid of £750,000 was not enough for Fleetwood to cash in, after Vardy again finished as a top scorer, this time with 31 goals making him the highest scorer in the Conference Premier. However, a record bid was too good to turn down, Leicester came calling and with a bid of £1,000,000, the highest of any non-league player ever, he was now part of the foxes and for the first time, in the Football League. His first season was damaged by poor form and criticism, leading to a potential earlier exit from football, only for then manager, Nigel Pearson and assistant Craig Shakespeare to change his mind and it paid off. The following season saw his fortunes turn. Vardy ended the season with 16 league goals and was named as the clubs player of the season voted by his peers, in a season that saw them earn promotion to the Premier League. His first season went the same as Leicester's, no way to find form until the last few months, as Leicester started to pick up points, Vardy began scoring again and was voted player of the month in the Premier League for April 2014, but it was the next season that made the mark. As Claudio Ranieri came in, the Vardy and Mahrez effect came into full flow, with the defensive solidity and midfield balance, matched with the togetherness and support, there was a spark of brilliance. Not much needs to be said, we all know the story, but the Premier League winners medal, Premier League player of the year and Football Writers player of the year, alongside his 24 league goals, is just a perfect ending to the story. Unless a Champions League campaign and title defence can continue the remarkable rise of Jamie Vardy for yet another season. The new contract just caps of the way he come from £30-a-week just 9 years ago, to a whopping £100,000+ now. Hats off to you Jamie Vardy, what a hero.