Leicester City’s dramatic fall from grace is now complete. Following the club’s devastating relegation to League One, the Foxes have confirmed a mass exodus of senior talent, with veteran Ghanaian forward Jordan Ayew officially set to lead the list of departures this summer.
The 34-year-old Ayew, who joined the club from Crystal Palace for a reported £5 million just two summers ago, will leave the King Power Stadium upon the expiry of his contract at the end of June . His departure marks the end of a brief stint where he contributed five goals and three assists in 36 Championship appearances during the 2025/26 season .
Ayew is not alone in the exit door. A full-scale fire sale is underway as the club slashes a wage bill that has proven unsustainable in the third tier. According to club sources, Ricardo Pereira and Patson Daka will also be moving on, alongside defensive duo Jamaal Lascelles and veteran goalkeeper Asmir Begovic .
The retained list confirms the club’s desire to hit the reset button following back-to-back relegations. While the club has yet to publish its full official retained list, reports suggest that players like Harry Winks, Jannik Vestergaard, and Bobby De Cordova-Reid remain under contract, though their long-term futures are uncertain as the club looks to rebuild with a lower-cost model .
The End of an Era
This squad overhaul comes as Leicester faces its lowest ebb since the 2008/09 season. The decline has been rapid; just a decade ago, the Foxes were the darlings of world football, defying 5,000-1 odds to win the Premier League in 2016 .
However, financial mismanagement, points deductions for spending breaches, and poor recruitment have led to a third relegation in four seasons . Manager Gary Rowett, brought in to stop the rot, was unable to prevent the slide, with the side finishing 23rd in the Championship .
A Busy Summer Ahead
With revenues set to plummet in League One, the free-agent market will be Leicester’s primary hunting ground this summer. The club is expected to focus on younger, hungrier players, but may look to seasoned campaigners to guide the rebuild. Reports have already linked the club with possible moves for former Premier League players now available on free transfers, including former fan-favorite Jeffrey Schlupp (released by Norwich) and midfielders like Luke Berry .
As the clock ticks down to the June 30 contract expiry dates, the King Power Stadium is set for a summer of austerity and reconstruction, with Jordan Ayew becoming the face of the mass exodus as Leicester prepares for life in League One.
