Jamie Vardy: England striker signs new Leicester City contract until 2019

Jamie Vardy scores against Chelsea (Getty)

Premier League leaders Leicester City have delivered their title rivals with a further signal of intent after Jamie Vardy signed a new three-a-half-year contract.

The 29-year-old delivered a typically industrious display as the Foxes defeated Manchester City 3-1 in emphatic fashion at the Etihad to fly into a stunning five point lead at the summit.

Vardy has been in talks with the Leicester hierarchy since before Christmas with Claudio Ranieri’s side not only maintaining their unlikely title bid but strengthening their advantage at the top of the table.

The former Fleetwood Town striker said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be fighting to achieve something special with this club, as part of this squad. I've never known a spirit like it - from the owners, to the manager and his staff, the players and the fans. I want to be part of it for a long time.

“Leicester City have shown nothing but total faith in me since the day I arrived here three and a half years ago and it's impossible to measure how much that belief has helped me to improve. I’ll forever be grateful for the investment the Club has made in me and I’ll spend every day working to repay it.”

Vardy, formerly on a £45,000-a-week deal, has received a significant salary-hike as Leicester look to cement their place among the elite of English football.

After becoming the first player to ever score in 11 consecutive Premier League matches, breaking a record previously achieved by former Manchester United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former Stocksbridge Steels man has thus far eclipsed all rivals in the top flight scoring stakes with 18 goals.

Vardy, now a full England international destined to be in Roy Hodgson’s squad for the European Championship this summer, only agreed fresh terms at the King Power Stadium 16 months ago but his stock in the game has since risen at an unforeseen pace.