Yahoo News Surprise Leicester City transfer justified by immediate return to Premier League
When England international Conor Coady decided to drop into the Championship with Leicester City, it was a move that raised eyebrows. But now heading back into the Premier League, the centre-back believes his decision has been justified.
Coady and fellow summer signing Harry Winks were in similar positions when, having established themselves as top-flight regulars, they opted not to wait for Premier League clubs to come in for them, instead choosing to sign for City. Coady’s move was a £7.5m switch from Wolves, who he had represented with distinction.
In the end, Coady’s absence from the Premier League lasted just one year. He played 12 matches for City as they won the Championship title, perhaps not as many as he’d have liked, with Jannik Vestergaard taking advantage of Coady’s pre-season foot injury to establish himself as Enzo Maresca’s go-to man at the heart of the defence.
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“It’s incredible,” Coady said, reflecting on City’s promotion. “To go through a full season like we have, well the boys have been incredible. I dropped out of the Premier League to come to Leicester, so to be going back to the Premier League, well it’s justified as well.
“It fills me with pride and, to be honest, I’m not someone who thinks too much about myself. But to do it with this club, especially the way we have, has just been brilliant.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play for some fantastic football clubs, I really have, but this one is another one of them. From top to bottom, from the owner, the staff, the manager and the players, it’s amazing.
“The players, the manager and the staff have produced when it’s mattered. It’s been an incredible season for us, absolutely fantastic.
“Listen, I think everybody thought we were going to cruise it in February, but it was never ever going to be like that – and we knew that. We’ve been fantastic and done what we needed to do. The supporters pay good money to come and watch us, winning the league is for them.
“Leicester City getting promoted or Leicester City winning anything, well it’s all for the supporters and what they do. It’s incredible for them, incredible for us and incredible for the whole football club. I can’t get over how close this football club actually is. I think it’s absolutely incredible.”
Coady will hope to feature more regularly in the Premier League, but has plenty of competition for his place. Vestergaard is expected to sign a new contract to keep him at the club, while Wout Faes and Ben Nelson are liked by Marecsa too.
