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Soccer Player Jamie Vardy Turns Down $22 Million Contract To Stay With Underdog Club

29-year old Player of the Season Jamie Vardy has decided to extend his contract for four more years.
The Vardy Party will stay at King Power Stadium until 2020.
Reuters Staff / Reuters
The Vardy Party will stay at King Power Stadium until 2020.

The Vardy Party will remain at King Power Stadium with the Leicester City Foxes for four more years.

The English Premier League champions -- which had less chance of winning the title than finding Elvis alive and has fans so passionate they caused an earthquake -- announced on Thursday that Jamie Vardy, the 2015/16 Player of the Season, has extended his contract until 2020.

The decision comes after league giants Arsenal triggered the 29-year old England international's contract release clause at the start of June, offering a transfer price tag of $22 million, according to The Guardian.

Vardy's 24 goals in the 2015/16 season helped Leicester City jump from relegation favourites the year before to first-time Premier League champions.

And he's now representing his country in the 2016 Euro competition, where he has already scored four goals and helped England progress to the Round of 16.

In a statement released by the club, Leicester City confirmed club executives have spoken with Vardy's representatives and talks will resume following his national team performances in France.

"Both parties hope that this announcement will end recent speculation regarding Jamie's future and confirm his long term commitment to Leicester City Football Club,"

"Jamie will continue to focus all of his efforts on trying to achieve success with the England team... There will be no further comment from either the Club or the player on this matter until the conclusion of the tournament."

At the age of 29, the move pretty much guarantees Vardy will end his career playing for the Foxes to the delight of thousands of local supporters, according to The Guardian.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, it seems money can't buy loyalty and so the party kicks on with the boys in blue.

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