Youri Tielemans bids an emotional farewell to Leicester as he confirms he will leave

Youri Tielemans has announced he is leaving Leicester.

The 26-year-old joined from Monaco in 2019 but is out of contract this summer and his departure comes after Leicester were relegated.

‘I’m bidding farewell to this incredible club,’ he said on Instagram. ‘I am forever grateful for your support.’

During his four-and-a-half-year spell with the Foxes, the Belgium international won the FA Cup, having netted the winner against Chelsea, and the Community Shield.

He is now set to become a free agent, however, signalling the start of a transfer saga that is likely to see a number of teams express their interest in him.

Youri Tielemans has waved farewell to Leicester with an emotional social media message

The midfielder, who won the FA Cup in 2021, will depart after his four-and-a-half-year stint

In a touching video, Tielemans wrote: ‘Dear Leicester City fans, after 4.5 special years and with a lot of gratitude I’m bidding farewell to this incredible club.

‘From the first day I set foot on this ground, your warmth and passion embraced me.

‘Victory and triumph, love, hope and even defeat. We’ve shared many special moments together. I am forever grateful for your unwavering support.

‘Thank you to Khun Top, the board, the staff, the players and fans for having given me and my family a home.

‘This is not a goodbye, but a heartfelt farewell.’

In the video, the Belgium international looked back on his ‘special memories’ at the club

Tielemans scored the winner against Chelsea at Wembley; his most famous goal at the club

Tielemans will depart as one of the most sought-after players on the market, although, like much of Leicester’s squad, his form notably dropped this campaign.

As a result, just seven years after winning the Premier League against all the odds, Dean Smith’s side were relegated to the Championship in a major upset.

Neither Brendan Rodgers nor Smith were able to reverse Leicester’s poor form or inspire the turnaround required to haul them out of the bottom three. 

The failure to secure survival over the final weeks of the season increased the likelihood that Tielemans would leave, and that has indeed proven to be the case. 

However, after a poor campaign, Tielemans and Leicester were relegated to the Championship

He joined initially on loan from Monaco in January 2019 and was then signed permanently in a club record £32million swoop, having made an instant impact.

Tielemans was offered a new deal in 2021 but held off on signing, having instead pinned his hopes on joining a club able to offer him Champions League football. 

Arsenal have been long-term suitors and Liverpool are the latest to be linked.

Team-mate James Maddison, meanwhile, is also expected to leave Leicester.