Goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel has departed Leicester City to join Nice in a £1 million transfer deal.
Schmeichel joined Leicester in June 2011 for an undisclosed fee from Leeds United and has since gone on to help the Foxes win Championship, Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield titles during his 11 year tenure at the King Power Stadium.
Last season also saw Schmeichel replace the retired Wes Morgan as club captain as the Foxes struggled to eighth in the Premier League, whilst suffering early exits in FA Cup and UEFA Europa League although they reached Quarter-Final and Semi-Final of Carabao Cup and Europa Conference League respectively.
Leicester though has accepted a £1m transfer fee from Ligue 1’s Nice for the Danish goalkeeper who has earned 84 international caps for Denmark, as well as made 479 club appearances for the Foxes during his time in the East Midlands.
“I’m very, very happy. It’s amazing to meet everyone, it’s great to see all these fans who came for us,” commented Schmeichel on his first foreign move of his career, having spent the entire of his career based in the UK playing for several English clubs plus Scotland’s Falkirk.
In a statement announcing Schmeichel’s departure, Leicester said: “He leaves Leicester City Football Club with the heartfelt gratitude of all his friends and colleagues after his incredible service along with their best wishes for the next chapter in his career with OGC Nice.”
Leicester City Chairman, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha meanwhile issued his own tribute in which he said: “Throughout his time with us and particularly as a captain and vice-captain, Kasper has always been a player willing to stand up and take responsibility, leading the team with distinction.
“His influence and his leadership on and off the pitch speak volumes about him as a professional, as a football player and as a human being.
“I know Leicester City supporters share the respect we all have for a player of Kasper’s standing after all his accomplishments as a footballer and captain and will join me in wishing him the very best for the next stage of his career in France with OGC Nice.
“It’s clear to everyone who has watched him perform that Kasper has given everything to Leicester City every time he has played and the experiences shared between him, the Club and our supporters over the last 11 years mean he will always remain a part of this family.”
Discussion about this post