• The Championship

Leicester make Vardy first £1m non-league player

ESPN staff
May 18, 2012
Jamie Vardy is the first non-league player to be signed for £1m © PA Photos
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Former Fleetwood Town striker Jamie Vardy has become the first £1 million non-league player after completing a move to Championship side Leicester City.

Vardy, 25, scored 34 goals in 40 games for the Conference side this season after joining from Halifax to fire the club to promotion - subsequently attracting bids from Leicester, Cardiff and Peterborough.

It was Leicester who ultimately managed to convince Vardy to sign for them, however, with Foxes boss Nigel Pearson delighted to secure the player's services.

"There were a number of clubs vying to secure Jamie's signature, so it's very pleasing that we have been able to bring him to Leicester City," Pearson said. "He will definitely help to take us forward."

Fleetwood boss Micky Mellon expressed his pride at helping Vardy make the leap to the second tier of English football.

"Jamie has been terrific for the club in his short time here," Mellon said. "He's a lad we pulled out from lower down non-league and he is about to become a Championship player. That's great testament to his work rate and desire, not forgetting his team-mates who've helped bring him along.

"He quickly became a player who interested big clubs and I'm absolutely delighted his career has progressed to the next step. We'll continue to watch with great interest and pride his future development as a Championship player."

Vardy's landmark transfer comes 33 years after the first ever seven-figure transfer fee, which Nottingham Forest paid to lure Trevor Francis away from Birmingham City in February 1979.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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