Kelechi Iheanacho is rewarded with a new three-year new deal at Leicester City after stunning recent form in front of goal under Brendan Rodgers to cap off a memorable month that saw him net seven goals in four games
- Kelechi Iheanacho has signed a new three-year contract with Leicester City
- Iheanacho has enjoyed a great run of form and was named Player of the Month
- He has stepped up for Brendan Rodgers and has seven goals in his last four
- The 24-year-old had a year left on his £60,000-per-week deal at the King Power
Kelechi Iheanacho has signed a new three-year contract with Leicester City as a reward for his stunning recent form.
The Nigerian takes on former club Manchester City – who sold him for £25m in 2017 – on Saturday after scoring seven goals in his last four games.
Iheanacho, who earns about £60,000 a week, had one year left on his contract at the end of the campaign and the club have shown him how highly they value the 24-year-old by giving him fresh terms until 2024.
In-form striker Kelechi Iheanacho has been rewarded with a new deal with Leicester City
Iheanacho told Leicester’s official website: ‘I can’t express how I’m feeling. I’m excited, I’m happy, I’m overwhelmed! It’s a great moment and I’m happy that Leicester City gave me a new contract.
‘It’s been a great time here. It’s not been easy, but there’s a lot of people here that are good people, great people to work with. They are nice people and they make me feel comfortable and welcome since I came in.
‘It’s been really great being here. It’s like a family. I’m happy being here and hopefully I can stay here many more years.’
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a sensational run of form and was named Player of the Month
He said he was ‘overwhelmed’ and excited’ by his new deal and is targeting a long-term stay
The Nigerian has formed an excellent double act with Foxes star Jamie Vardy in recent weeks
Boss Brendan Rodgers called Iheanacho ‘a wonderful character’ after he committed his future to the team.
‘I think you see a young player playing at the top of his game,’ he said.
‘When he was at Manchester City he was a young developing player who hadn’t played much. He came here for a big fee (reported to be £25million) and then of course coming into a team with one of the league’s best strikers (Jamie Vardy) has needed some adapting from him.
Leicester boss Rodgers called Iheanacho a ‘wonderful character’ and ‘at the top of his game’
‘I can only speak for the two years I’ve been here but his work, his ambition to become a better player was always there.
‘He’s a wonderful character within the squad, constantly smiling, and whatever role he’s been asked to play he’s played it very well.
‘The combination between him and Jamie is very good and at 24 there’s a lot of improvement in him.’
Iheanacho has mostly been Jamie Vardy’s deputy during his time at Leicester but they have flourished recently as a partnership up front.
Leicester v Manchester City, 5.30pm, Live on Sky Sports.