The Foxes are preparing for life in the Champions, so who are the Leicester City new signings ahead of the new league campaign?
There’s much to be said about the Foxes' last 365 days. The once glorious Premier League-winning side was reduced to the league's laughing stock in the 2022/23 campaign under coach Brendan Rodgers’ rule.
The team managed to pull itself from the dirt in the last couple of fixtures, but, alas, it wasn’t enough, as, at the end of the season, lacklustre Toffees had a precious two-point lead over the Foxes, beating them in the salvation battle.
With nine victories, seven draws, and 22 league losses, the 2015/2016 Premier League winners were relegated and will now have to claw their way back to the top of English football. As a result, the board had to make massive changes to the team. Many players joined other Premier League sides, some fresh blood joined the Foxes’ ranks, and we’ll have to wait and see if the men in charge made the right decisions.
So, who are Leicester City’s ins and outs in the summer of 2023?
Leicester City new signings: Summer 2023 arrivals
Harry Winks (Tottenham)
There’s no denying that Harry Winks has the required arsenal to boost the Foxes’ chance to get back to Premier League football for the 2024/25 season. The 27-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur star has proven his worth throughout his career, but he wasn’t featured in coach Ange Postecoglu’s plans, so the board was quick to accept Leicester’s offer.
After 20 Serie A games with much-admired Sampdoria, Harry joins Leicester on a three-year deal after a massive €11.70m bid.
We’ll most likely see Harry make an official debut with the blue jersey on the 6th of August when Leicester City take on the Coventry City challenge.
Conor Coady (Wolverhampton)
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Coady is number 2 on our list, but he’ll be among the key players for Leicester City during his spell at the club. Following 24 Premier League games with Everton in the 2022/23 season, Conor is opening a new chapter in his professional career, as he looks to challenge himself with a Championship adventure.
Conor Coady swaps Wolves for Foxes after eight years with his former club. However, Wolverhampton Wanderers look to improve their starting XI, and there just doesn’t seem to be any place for 30-year-old Coady. He joins Leicester following an €8.50m bid for his services.
Mads Hermansen (Brondby IF)
The 23-year-old Mads Hernansen will try to make a name for himself in English football with the Foxes’ jersey. The former Brondby IF goalkeeper made 27 league appearances for the Danish giants in which he also recorded an assist! However, Brondby IF’s board couldn’t resist Leicester’s tempting €7.00m offer for the up-and-coming goalkeeper.
Thomas Cannon (Everton)
Born in England, Thomas Cannon is a youth international for Ireland. The 20-year-old finisher has a bright future ahead of him despite the fact that Sean Dyche deemed him unqualified to play for Everton. The up-and-coming striker spent the 2022/23 season playing for Preston. During his stay, he made a total of 20 appearances, scoring on eight occasions.
His efforts did not go unnoticed by Leicester’s 43-year-old manager. Enzo Maresca seems to have an eye for talent as the Toffee’s starlet is now officially a part of the Foxes. The 20-year-old striker joined Leicester a couple of weeks ago on a £7.5m deal. The Everton chapter in his professional career is behind him, as Thomas will be strutting his stuff at King Power Stadium in the next four years.
Stephy Mavididi (Montpellier)
25-year-old Stephy Mavididi is the latest player to boost coach Enzo Maresca’s side during the tiresome 2023/24 Championship campaign. With top creators Harvey Barnes and James Maddison leaving for Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur, it was a nor-or-never scenario for the Foxes. They had to react quickly to find a suitable replacement up front, and it seems that Stephy Mavididi will be the one to fill in the huge gap in attack.
Stephy Mavididi previously enjoyed three wonderful seasons with Ligue 1’s Montpellier. During last season, Mavididi made 26 official appearances for Montpellier in Ligue 1 alone, scoring on four occasions as well as assisting twice. The 2021/22 season was undoubtedly the highlight of his career, as he scored eight times whilst assisting four goals too.
Stephy Mavididi cost Leicester €7.50m, so there will be some pressure to prove his worth. However, Mavididi is the sort of player who thrives under such conditions. We expect to see only top-notch stuff from the English finisher during his four-year spell with the Foxes.
Yunus Akgun (Galatasaray)
Yunus Akgun will have a season-long shot to prove to coach Enzo Maresca that he deserves a permanent deal with Leicester. The Turkish international will be competing for a starting position on the right wing with the likes of Issahaku Fatawu and Wanya Marcal. However, it seems that the Galatasaray star will be the one to get more minutes under coach Enzo Maresca’s rule.
The Foxes paid the Turkish giants €700k for this season-long loan. Considering his undeniable talent, Yunus Akgun was definitely worth the investment and we believe the Foxes will only benefit from this deal in the long run.
Leicester City’s transfer departures
Harvey Barnes (Newcastle)
Fan-favorite Harvey Barnes leaves Leicester City after 146 official games for his team. Harvey, 25, is a product of Leicester City’s youth academy, but his talent grows larger by the day. There was no way the board could force the player to partake in a Championship quest when the tempting €44m Newcastle offer was made a couple of weeks ago.
Harvey Barnes already made his unofficial debut with the Magpies’ jersey in the US pre-season tour, but we’ll have to wait until the 12th of August when Newcastle lock horns with Aston Villa in the Premier League for Harvey’s official first game.
James Maddison (Tottenham)
Similar to former partner-in-crime Barnes, Maddison was transferred to one of England’s top teams. Tottenham Hotspur didn’t have a campaign to savour last year, so perhaps snapping Maddison on a €46.30m transfer is exactly what Spurs need to claw their way back to the top 4.
Maddison, 26, defended Leicester’s honor in 163 games with the club, during which he found the net on 43 occasions. He’ll most likely make an official debut with the club on the 8th of August when Spurs go up against Barcelona for the Joan Gamper trophy.
Jonny Evans (Manchester United)
The Red Devils are one of the many Premier League vultures to poach one of Leicester’s players on a free transfer. Jonny Evans makes a surprise return to his childhood team after five years at Leicester.
At the age of 35, Jonny is no spring chicken. However, he will have a vital role to play under coach Erik ten Hag’s rule.
Leicester City dodged a financial bullet by transferring Jonny Evans, as the veteran was among the top earners on the team.
Timothy Castagne (Fulham)
27-year-old right-back Timothy Castagne will sadly no longer play for the Foxes. The Belgian defender joined Premier League’s Fulham on a €13m deal earlier last month. Castagne already made an appearance for Cottagers in the Premier League, but given his skills, he’ll quickly make a breakthrough into the starting XI.
Timothy Castagne signed a three-year deal, and hopes are that he’ll be the one to bring consistency at the back for Cottagers. The 27-year-old previously made a total of 112 appearances for Leicester. He was a vital part of how the Foxes played and he had a key role in the team’s UEFA Conference League’s semi-final glory.
George Hirst (Ipswich Town)
Having only two official appearances for Leicester, it’s fair to say George Hirst never had a key role to play for the Foxes. However, Leicester did manage to squeeze €1.75m out of Ipswich Town for George Hirst’s services. The 30-year-old will play for the Tractor Boys in the next two seasons.
Victor Kristiansen (Bologna)
Up-and-coming Danish defender Victor Kristiansen was sent to Serie A’s Bologna. He’ll have the entire 2023/24 season to gather much-needed experience before returning to the Foxes’ camp next summer. Leicester City received a solid €1m pay for a season-long loan deal for Victor Kristiansen. The Greyhounds will be able to use the Danish defender in their battle to stay in Serie A. Victor had a fantastic debut with Bologna, as he supplied a teammate with an assist in his first match.
Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa)
Central midfielder Youri Tielemans tops the list of players who left King Power Stadium on a free transfer. The 26-year-old Belgian midfielder boosted Premier League’s Aston Villa, where he already made four official appearances under coach Unai Emery’s rule.
Caglar Soyuncu (Atletico Madrid)
Turkish center-back Caglar Soyunci is another player who left King Power Stadium. Leicester failed to get a penny out of Caglar Soyuncu, as the 27-year-old had a relegation clause on his contract, thus boosting Atletico Madrid on a free transfer. With two matches played for his new club, it seems that Caglar will play a key role for Atletico Madrid in their 2023/24 La Liga campaign.
Ayoze Perez (Real Betis)
Real Betis hit the jackpot with the Ayoze Perez transfer back in August. Similar to Caglar Soyuncu and Youri Tielemans, Ayoze also had a relegation release clause on his Leicester contract. That’s why he was able to boost La Liga’s Real Betis on a free transfer. Ayoze signed a three-year deal with Los Verdiblancos, and fans should be pleased by their board’s swift transfer maneuvers to bring the 29-year-old Spaniard to Estadio Benito Villamarin.
