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Leicester City news: Jamie Vardy signs new four-year contract on £100,000-a-week after Arsenal interest

The 29-year-old scored 24 goals last season, attracting the interest of Arsenal last month

Samuel Stevens
Wednesday 27 July 2016 20:12 BST
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Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have both been transfer targets for Arsenal
Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have both been transfer targets for Arsenal (Getty)

Jamie Vardy says he is excited to help Leicester City mount their Premier League title defence after signing the four-year contract he agreed with champions last month.

The 29-year-old, who was subject to a £20m offer from Arsenal in June, flew out to Los Angeles on Wednesday morning ahead of the pre-season meeting with Paris Saint-Germain this weekend.

After scoring 24 goals to propel Leicester to their first-ever top flight title, Arsenal triggered the release clause in his previous contract but Vardy - after a fortnight of contemplation - elected to stay with the Foxes while on duty with England at Euro 2016.

The striker, who married his wife Rebekah and became a father for the second time this summer, says he is ready for a “big season” which will include a debut in the Champions League.

“I'm looking forward to seeing the lads again,” the former Halifax striker said. “It feels like a lot's happened since the end of last season, so we'll have a bit to catch up on and there are some new faces to meet, but the new season’s just a few weeks away, so I'm sure there will be plenty of hard work too.

“It's a big season for the club as defending champions so we've got to make sure we're ready for it. Nobody expected anything from us last year, but it will be very different this time so we've got to be ready to hit the ground running.”

Meanwhile, defender Ben Chilwell is set to sign a new contract with the Premier League champions despite Liverpool scouts monitoring his progress.

The 19-year-old, who has a year remaining on his current deal, is considered as one of the most exciting English talents of his generation and has featured in both the victories over Oxford United and Celtic in the past fortnight.

“He is very close [to signing a new contract] and he will stay with us,” said manager Claudio Ranieri after the penalty shoot-out victory in Glasgow on Saturday.

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