Leicester City officially began its squad overhaul on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, as 16 players left the club following contract expirations.
Defender Wout Faes also returned from a loan spell after AS Monaco declined a permanent transfer option.
According to the Leicester Mercury, long-serving captain Ricardo Pereira, Patson Daka, and Jordan Ayew are among the prominent first-team figures leaving the King Power Stadium on free transfers.
January signing Jamaal Lascelles and youngster Wanya Marcal have also departed.
Loan players Jordan James, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Aribo, Dujuan Richards, and Divine Mukasa returned to their parent clubs.
Faes Returns After Monaco Opt Out
AS Monaco confirmed that the €7.5 million (£6.5 million) purchase option for Wout Faes would not be triggered due to financial adjustments after their qualification for the Conference League rather than higher-revenue European competitions.
"After having defended the Rouge & Blanc colours 16 times, Wout Faes is leaving AS Monaco at the end of his loan, which began last January," the French club stated.
AS Monaco released an official statement on X expressing appreciation for the Belgian international's tenure.
"The Club thanks Wout for his commitment and professionalism throughout his time on the Rock, and wishes him the very best for the rest of his career," the statement read.
Meanwhile, former Leicester City defender Christian Fuchs made a notable transition to cricket during his summer break.
He debuted for Derbyshire-based club Grindleford in a friendly match against Riverside Notts, as reported by the BBC.
Hasan Mahmood, a delivery driver and bowler for Riverside Notts, described facing the 40-year-old Austrian.
"The umpire said 'go easy on him, it's his first game'," Mahmood recalled.
"I didn't mean to bowl a full toss to him. It just happened," Mahmood said.
The full toss allowed Fuchs to hit a significant boundary during his innings of 12 runs.
"Next thing you know, I get whacked for a six," Mahmood added.
He noted the unusual destination of the cricket ball: "It ended up in the river next to the [ground].
I'm surprised he didn't make me go and get it."
Fuchs also contributed by taking two wickets and assisting in a run-out during his 3.2 overs of bowling.
"His bowling, he was throwing it but it was alright," Mahmood said.
The opposition team chose to accommodate the newcomer without contesting his delivery technique. "It was his first game, so it is what it is.
We gave him the benefit of the doubt and didn't say anything to him," Mahmood explained.
Mahmood shared details about the post-match interaction with the former Premier League champion. "When he got out, he was chatting to all of us.
He was a very, very nice guy," he said.
The amateur players expressed astonishment at competing against a professional athlete in a local weekend fixture.
"It was a surprise to actually see him there because it was so random.
It's a random game on a Sunday and we just see a Premier League winner there," Mahmood concluded.
