The most expensive transfers in Leicester City history, including £30m teenager and where they are now

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Here, EFL Analysis takes a look at the most expensive signings in Leicester City’s history.

Leicester City have developed a reputation for being partial to a bargain or two over the years.

Whether that be Riyad Mahrez for £450k or the infamous £1m deal involving Jamie Vardy, the Foxes have become accustomed to splashing the cash a bit more over the course of the last decade.

Last breaking their transfer record in 2019, competing in the Championship means that they are unlikely to surpass the £38m they paid at the time.

So, with that, here are the 10 most expensive signings in Leicester’s history.

• READ MORE: The 10 most expensive signings in Championship history and where they are now

10) Timothy Castagne – £17.8m

• Signed from: Atalanta
• Date signed: September 2020
• Appearances: 112
• Honours: FA Cup, Community Shield
• Current club: Fulham

Timothy Castagne joined the Foxes during their golden era of trying to disrupt the Premier League’s top four and secure regular ventures in Europe.

Castagne was a part of the side that won the FA Cup for the first time in Leicester’s history and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Following relegation to the Championship, the Belgium international joined Fulham and is still there now.

9) Caglar Soyuncu – £18m

• Signed from: Freiburg
• Date signed: August 2018
• Appearances: 132
• Honours: FA Cup, Community Shield
• Current club: Fenerbahce

Caglar Soyuncu was a no-nonsense defender brought to the King Power Stadium as a youngster with a view to developing him into a first team regular.

Soyuncu was rash and despite showing signs of brilliance on occasion, was just as capable of losing his cool and giving away goals and fouls.

He was never a nailed-on starter and left the same year as Castagne did, however, on a free transfer. He’s now back in his homeland Turkey, playing for Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.

8) Ricardo Pereira – £18.8m

• Signed from: Porto
• Date signed: July 2018
• Appearances: 181
• Honours: FA Cup, Community Shield, Championship
• Current club: Leicester City

One of two to feature on the list who is still on the books at the King Power Stadium, Ricardo Pereira is a fan favourite and one of the best right-backs in the club’s history.

Having won three trophies with the Foxes, Pereira is one of the more decorated players to represent the club and could be one of the figures in line to replace Vardy as Leicester captain.

7) James Maddison – £21.3m

• Signed from: Norwich City
• Date signed: July 2018
• Appearances: 203
• Honours: FA Cup, Community Shield
• Current club: Tottenham Hotspur

James Maddison is a polarising figure among Leicester supporters.

On his day, Maddison was unplayable and a true joy to watch but could frustrate and some fans believed that he would go missing in big moments.

Like many in this list, the England international left following relegation and signed for Tottenham Hotspur. While there, he helped end the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy by winning the Europa League.

6) Kelechi Iheanacho – £23.6m

• Signed from: Manchester City
• Date signed: August 2017
• Appearances: 229
• Honours: FA Cup, Community Shield, Championship
• Current club: Sevilla

Mr FA Cup himself, Kelechi Iheanacho may have flopped during a loan spell at Middlesbrough in 2025 but at Leicester, he is something of a cult hero.

His goals in the FA Cup-winning run in 2021 will go down in history and he was always a well-liked member of the squad.

Since leaving after the Championship title win though, things haven’t gone to plan for the Nigerian and a torrid six months at Sevilla ended up seeing him shipped out on loan, where his fortunes didn’t improve.

5) Patson Daka – £25.6m

• Signed from: RB Salzburg
• Date signed: July 2021
• Appearances: 121
• Honours: Community Shield, Championship
• Current club: Leicester City

Brought in to replace Vardy in 2021, Patson Daka has struggled to break into the side.

Rated by many as one of the hottest prospects at the time after his goal scoring form with Red Bull Salzburg, that hasn’t been the same in England and even though he is still technically a Leicester player, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him moved on.

4) Islam Slimani – £26.5m

• Signed from: Sporting
• Date signed: August 2016
• Appearances: 47
• Current club: Westerlo

Off the back of winning the Premier League in 2016, Leicester wanted a talisman with experience of scoring on Europe’s biggest stage.

Algerian international Islam Slimani fitted the bill perfectly after becoming a ruthless forward in front of goal.

Unfortunately, despite the odd signs of brilliance, his greatest moment came against Porto in the Champions League where his header secured a famous first Champions League win ever at the King Power Stadium.

Now in the latter stages of his career, he is playing in Belgium for Westerlo.

3) Ayoze Perez – £28.5m

•  Signed from: Newcastle United
• Date signed: July 2019
• Appearances: 114
• Honours: FA Cup, Community Shield
• Current club: Villarreal

Ayoze Perez was a big expense for the Foxes in 2019 and while he was a versatile option, never really lived up to the price tag.

He played a part in Leicester’s FA Cup-winning goal by assisting Youri Tielemans (more on him later) but then squandered a great chance against Chelsea just a couple of days later as Leicester missed out on a Champions League spot.

Perez has enjoyed an Indian summer in his career since returning to Spain though, scoring buckets of goals for Villarreal in La Liga.

2) Wesley Fofana – £29.9m

• Signed from: Saint-Etienne
• Date signed: October 2020
• Appearances: 52
• Honours: FA Cup, Community Shield
• Current club: Chelsea

Eyebrows were raised when Leicester paid £30m to sign an unknown defender from Ligue 1, but soon it was Leicester who had the last laugh.

Wesley Fofana took the league by storm and was one of the best defenders in the world during his debut Premier League campaign.

An accomplished teenager, Fofana was dealt a huge setback by picking up a long-term injury, in which the Foxes helped him recover.

However, when the Frenchman returned to action it wasn’t long before he was actively pushing to leave to join Chelsea and in 2022, was sold for in excess of £70m. Leicester would be relegated that same season.

1) Youri Tielemans – £38.4m

• Signed from: Monaco
• Date signed: July 2019
• Appearances: 195
• Honours: FA Cup, Community Shield
• Current club: Aston Villa

Last, but by no means least, it’s Youri Tielemans. The midfielder was signed for a record fee that came to nearly £40m in July 2019 following a successful loan spell.

Tielemans was at the heartbeat of the Foxes’ most talented side and is also responsible for the most famous goal scored by a Leicester player.

That FA Cup goal will go down in history and still to this day, the midfielder is strutting his stuff at the elite level with Aston Villa.