Vestergaard backs himself to reach next level as Leicester move confirmed
Leicester City have confirmed the signing of Jannik Vestergaard from Southampton on a three-year contract.
Vestergaard underwent a medical on Thursday and the transfer has now been completed. He was in the final year of his contract with Southampton, who thus cashed in on him. Leicester have added him to reinforce their defence, with Wesley Fofana ruled out long-term and Jonny Evans also sidelined for the start of the season.
The transfer of Vestergaard will provide them with the necessary relief. It has gone through in time for him to be eligible for their Premier League opener against Wolves on Saturday.
Leicester have not revealed how much they have paid for the 29-year-old – the fee is believed to be £15m – but confirmed his contract runs until 2024.
“I’m very happy and I’m really excited to get going,” he told the club website. “It’s a special club that has done very well over many years and I think the project is very, very exciting, even from the outside looking in. To be a part of it is a big thing for me.
“I know a couple of the players, and Kasper (Schmeichel) and Ryan (Bertrand) I know very well and get along with off the pitch, so that’s going to be very easy. Just from my first impression of the guys in the dressing room, they’re a good bunch, and I’m sure I’ll settle in very quickly.”
The former Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back returns to a club of European stature, with Europa League football on the horizon again for the Foxes this season.
Vestergaard is coming off the back of a successful summer, in which he helped Denmark reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020.
Vestergaard has spoken with Rodgers
The 29-year-old has been a long-term target for Brendan Rodgers. A discussion with the coach helped convince him to join.
“I’ve had a talk with him, I spoke with him today when I got here,” Vestergaard said. “I am a fan of how his teams play and how Leicester have played the last couple of years.
“I believe I have qualities that can help the team and I just look forward to evolving and becoming a better player under his guidance.
“I’m 29 but I’m not, I hope, at the end of my development. I’ve never felt better so I think it’s a great pairing. Winning trophies is something that every player dreams of and I’m no different.
“I’ve not had the luck yet to achieve anything like Leicester have just in recent weeks and recent months.”
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