Leicester City have sold star man Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea, with the boyhood Foxes fan confirming the departure on social media.
It has been a turbulent start to the summer for Leicester City, who have already seen last season’s Championship-winning manager Enzo Maresca depart.
Maresca left the Foxes to take the vacant Chelsea job and has been replaced by former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper in an appointment which has proved divisive given his links to Leicester’s rivals.
However, the summer has just got a whole lot worse, with Maresca returning to his former club to secure a £30 million deal for star man Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
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Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall posts heartfelt Leicester City farewell
Leicester’s financial concerns are no secret, with the club currently embroiled in an appeal against a Premier League charge from March in which league have claimed a historic PSR breach by the club.
With that ongoing, then latest PSR deadline came at the end of June and Leicester were again worried about a potential breach of spending rules.
Therefore, it was widely expected the club would have to sell their most valuable asset in Dewsbury-Hall and so it has proved with the departure now confirmed.
Having been at Leicester since a boy and supported the club his whole life, it would not have been an easy decision to leave the club and the 25-year-old has taken to Instagram to write an emotional farewell.
Dewsbury-Hall posted a montage of clips from his time at the club, with the message: ‘Hi LCFC Fans.
Well what can I say? What a journey it’s been. 17 years of my life devoted to this club and it’s been a pleasure. I’ve loved every minute of my time at this football club and created some memories & friendships I’ll never forget.
When we were relegated in the 22/23 season, I felt personally responsible for my part played in that. I made it my goal to ensure we got back to the Premier League within the first season, as I know how devastating a a position that can be for a club if it doesn’t happen.
I’m very proud of what we achieved together last season – creating memories of a lifetime for us all. But bigger than that, hopefully going some way to righting the wrongs of that relegation season.
The overwhelming amount of messages I’ve received in the past few days has honestly touched me and I thank each and every person for taking the time to do so, it means so much to me and my family.
I want to thank all of the team mates I’ve played with, the coaches that l’ve worked with and fans that l’ve grown with.
I’m glad I’m leaving the club with them in the Premier League, where they belong, and wish Leicester City all the best in the upcoming season and further on.
I’m one of your own, Leicester. But it’s time for me to go now…
Thanks for the ride. KDH.’
Current Leicester players react to Dewsbury-Hall departure
Dewsbury-Hall’s absence will be sorely felt in the heart of the Leicester midfield.
The former Luton Town loanee took his hometown club on his shoulders last season, registering 26 goals contributions en route to lifting the Championship title.
His influence was not lost on the current crop of Leicester stars and they have been sending the £30 million man their well-wishes in response to his farewell post.
Hamza Choudhury commented: ‘Ahhh my brother, memories that will last a lifetime’.
Whilst Tom Cannon simply responded: ‘All the best brother’.
A Leicester legend also sent Dewsbury-Hall his regards, as Andy King – who made 379 Leicester appearances – commented: ‘Good luck mate’.
It is undoubtedly a sad day to be a Leicester fan, but supporters will at least hope to see the money brought in reinvested into the squad to help with the Premier League survival bid.