Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans will leave the club this summer at the expiry of his contract after two years of transfer speculation amid interest from Arsenal and Newcastle
Youri Tielemans has announced his departure from Leicester City in the first of a swathe of exits expected this summer.
The Belgian midfielder, out of contract this summer, will finally leave the King Power Stadium after two years of transfer speculation.
Tielemans was offered a new deal at City in 2021, but resisted signing, as he hoped to find a club that could offer him Champions League football. No such move arrived, but he will now seek a new side as a free agent this summer.
In a video letter to supporters posted on social media, Tielemans said: “Dear Leicester City fans. After four-and-a-half special years, and with a lot of gratitude, I’m bidding farewell to this incredible club.
“From the first day I set foot on this ground, your warmth and passion embraced me. Victory and triumph, love and hope, and even defeat. We’ve shared many special moments together. I’ve forever grateful for your unwavering support.
Thank you to Khun Top, the board, the staff, the players and fans for having given me and my family a home. This is not a goodbye but a heartfelt farewell. With pride, love and eternal gratitude, Youri Tielemans.”
Tielemans joined the club initially on loan from Monaco in January 2019, making an instant impact. He was then signed that summer in a club-record £32m switch.
Under Brendan Rodgers, he became one of City’s most influential players, only missing one Premier League match across the 19-20 and 20-21 seasons in which the club finished fifth. In the second of those campaigns, Tielemans was City’s star man, winning the club’s player of the year award and writing his name into folklore with a stunning goal to clinch the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
Since then, Tielemans has come under greater scrutiny from supporters. Offered a new deal, his resistance to it has seen fans question his commitment, with his performances viewed through a harsher lens and his appearances as captain criticised.
