Jamie Vardy completes English football return with shock Championship club

Burnley have announced the signing of free agent Jamie Vardy on a contract until the end of the season.

Vardy had been without a club all summer following his departure from Italian side Cremonese at the end of last term.

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The Premier League-winning Leicester City legend had been linked with Everton and Wrexham during the transfer window.

Sheffield Wednesday and Brazilian side Sao Paolo also appeared as potential next clubs for the ex-England international.

However, out of nowhere, Burnley confirmed the arrival of 39-year-old Vardy in a shock announcement made on Sunday.

On his move, Vardy said: “I’m really happy to now be here at Burnley.

“This club has a proper footballing history and passionate fans who deserve a team that represents them and their town.

“I can’t wait to get going on the pitch and help the team move in the right direction.”

Burnley head coach Nicky Hayen added: “We are delighted to welcome Jamie to Burnley FC.

“His experience and leadership will be invaluable to our squad, and we believe he can make a significant impact on our campaign.

“Jamie has a proven track record, and we are looking forward to seeing him in a Claret shirt.”

Vardy’s move to Turf Moor caught many off guard following the transfer deadline, with talkSPORT’s Perry Groves describing the switch as a ‘curveball’.

Vardy returns to England

Vardy will be back playing in the EFL this season after joining Burnley a year after leaving Leicester at the end of his contract.

The veteran striker left the King Power Stadium in April 2025, having played 500 games and scored 200 goals for the club.

He won the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield across 13 years, also playing in the Champions League.

But after leaving, he headed for Italy in a surprise move, spending a year in Serie A with Cremonese and playing 29 games.

Vardy scored seven goals during his spell, which ended after just a year following the club’s relegation to Serie B.

And that left him as a free agent, with him now returning to the Championship, where he has played 98 times and scored 38 goals previously, following a summer of transfer rumours.

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Burnley boost

Burnley have added Vardy to their ranks after losing frontman Zian Flemming to Ipswich on Deadline Day.

The Clarets are in desperate need of some positivity after making a terrible start to the Championship season.

Hayen’s side sit bottom of the table after five games, only picking up two points so far following relegation last term.

They were beaten 2-1 by Bristol City on Saturday, on an afternoon that saw Armando Broja clash with fans post-match.

Vardy’s arrival though, will likely give them a boost as they aim to turn things around this season.

He has scored nine goals against Burnley in his career, but now he will be hoping to score plenty for them.