Leicester City have made their first summer signing as they return to the Premier League, bringing in Bobby De Cordova-Reid on a free transfer. The 31-year-old winger joins the promoted Foxes on a three-year deal after his contract with Fulham expired at the end of last season.
“Turning up here was a special moment, looking around and seeing the infrastructure," De Cordova-Reid told the official club website. "It’s got that wow factor. It feels nice. I’m delighted to be here and I can’t wait to get going. “I had a good chat with the manager, he told me the vision of the club. I spoke to him a few times and he was very clear in what he wanted and what he saw in me. He believes in me and it’s a perfect fit for me.”
Who is De Cordova-Reid? Born in Bristol, De Cordova-Reid joined Bristol City’s youth team in 2002 and rose through the ranks before making his senior debut on the last day of the 2010/11 season. The forward had loan spells with Cheltenham Town, Oldham Athletic and Plymouth Argyle before making his mark in Bristol. He stayed with Bristol City until the end of the 2017/18 season. During that campaign, De Cordova-Reid featured in their impressive EFL Cup run where they knocked out Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Watford and Stoke City on their way to the semi-final, where they lost to Manchester City.
He signed for Cardiff City and left after two seasons following a successful loan spell with Fulham. He helped the Cottagers gain promotion to the Premier League in 2020, before being their top scorer when they were relegated the next season. In 129 Premier League appearances, the 31-year-old has scored 20 goals and provided seven assists. Due to his Jamaican descent, De Cordova-Reid plays his international football for the Reggae Boyz after receiving a call-up in August 2019. He started two of Jamaica’s three matches at this summer's Copa America as they were knocked out in the group stage.
De Cordova-Reid will meet up with his new team-mates in the coming weeks, and Leicester start their pre-season schedule with a match against Shrewsbury Town on 23 July. The Foxes begin their Premier League campaign with a home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday 19 August. See: Summer 2024 transfers and news