Jamie Vardy, Leicester Agree on New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has agreed a new four-year contract with the Premier League champions, ending speculation about his future.

The 29-year-old had been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal after the Gunners met his release clause of £20 million, per BBC Sport. But the Foxes confirmed on Thursday via their official website that Vardy has committed his future to the club.

“Both parties hope that this announcement will end recent speculation regarding Jamie’s future and confirm his long-term commitment to Leicester,” read a section of the statement.

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The Foxes added they will be making no further comment about the situation until the end of the 2016 UEFA European Championship in France, where Vardy is on international duty with England.

As these numbers from OptaJoe illustrate, the forward was central to the club’s surprise title triumph in 2015-16 with his brilliant goalscoring:

Despite the success the club enjoyed last season, Leicester fans would have felt a pang of disappointment when reading Arsenal had triggered the exit clause in Vardy’s contract. After all, the Gunners have immense pulling power, are a big name in European football and would offer the forward the chance to play alongside some of the best attackers in the game.

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So for him to commit his future to the Foxes will be a huge boost. After all, goals aside, the way in which Vardy plays the game is so important to the way Leicester play, with his searing long runs turning opposition defences and creating space for the team's stars.

BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty thinks the champions have made a statement by keeping hold of their talismanic striker:

For Arsenal, though, it's a blow. Manager Arsene Wenger needs to add another centre-forward to his squad, with neither Olivier Giroud nor Theo Walcott convincing at the point of the attack last term. His pursuit of Vardy suggested the French coach is keen on bringing a little more diversity to the attacking third, too.

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It’s understandable that Vardy is showing loyalty to Leicester, though. The club took a big chance on him when parting with £1 million to bring him to the club from Fleetwood Town in 2012 and have stuck by him through some inconsistent form. Now, with the UEFA Champions League to come and a title to defend, that trust has been reciprocated.

Mark Ogden of The Independent is unsure whether or not Arsenal would have been the right fit for the player anyway:

Leicester fans will be delighted this deal has been done, and they can now enjoy watching their star man shine for England this summer without speculation lingering.

Vardy epitomises the brash, incisive style of football played by Claudio Ranieri’s side last term and with him leading the line again, they’ll remain a significant threat in 2016-17.

Arsenal supporters can at least comfort themselves with the knowledge that Wenger is on the lookout for a striker at long last. Should they go out and sign a forward of Vardy’s calibre from elsewhere, they’ll be in much better shape to challenge the Foxes for the Premier League title next term.