Full Breakdown
Leicester City Releases Ten Players After Championship Relegation
5/25/2026, 1:22:51 PM
Ten-Player Release and Relegation Context
Leicester City confirmed the departure of ten squad members following a second-from-bottom finish in the 2023-24 Championship, which relegated the club to League One. The drop marks a second consecutive relegation after the 2022-23 Premier League demotion and follows the club’s first points deduction in its history.
Departing Players and Recent Records
Forward Jordan Ayew (Ghana) leaves after two seasons, having scored 11 league goals in 72 appearances (BBC) – the Sun lists 12 goals in 80 matches – and is expected to join Ghana’s Black Stars for the 2026 World Cup. Right-back Ricardo Pereira (Portugal) exits after eight years, with 220 appearances, 15 goals and a £21.8 million fee paid in 2018. Striker Patson Daka (Zambia) departs having netted five goals in 41 Championship games this season; The Sun records 29 career goals in 165 club matches. Defender Jamaal Lascelles, signed on a short-term deal in January, made nine appearances. Younger players Jake Donohue, Jahmari Lindsay, Alfie Fisken, Toby Onanaye, Olaoluwa Omobolaji and Chris Popov (seven goals on loan at Morecambe) were also released. Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, 38, is in talks on a new contract.
Club’s Official Position
Leicester said veteran goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is negotiating a new deal despite his contract ending this summer. The club described the ten-player exit as a “reset” aimed at rebuilding a competitive League One squad and noted that several academy players have received new contracts.
Media Reaction
Some outlets labelled the relegation “embarrassing” and the player departures a purge of “flops,” emphasizing the club’s rapid decline after the points deduction and consecutive demotions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “LEICESTER CITY have released ten players including four ex-Premier League stars following their embarrassing relegation to League One.” — The Sun
- “The Foxes endured another pathetic campaign, which included the first points deduction in their history, to suffer back-to-back drops.” — The Sun
- “However, the club confirmed he is still in negotiations over an extension.” — The Sun (referring to Begovic)
- “Leicester have confirmed 38-year-old goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is in talks to sign a new contract with his current deal due to expire this summer.” — BBC
Conflicting Data
BBC lists Ayew as 34 years old with 11 league goals in 72 matches; Mogazmasr lists him as 32 and The Sun reports 12 goals in 80 matches. No club comment explains the differing figures. The club has not released an official statistical summary of the players’ contributions.
Outlook
Leicester has offered new contracts to several academy players and aims to finalize Begovic’s deal before the summer. The club will assemble a fresh League One squad with the goal of reversing the decline and pursuing promotion. The management hopes to secure a top-two finish.
