Leicester 2025/26 Season Preview: Transfers, Tactics & Predictions

After suffering relegation from the Premier League last term, Leicester City are heading into the 2025/26 season with one clear goal: bouncing straight back up, but will it be that easy?

In what looks set to be a fiercely competitive Championship season, we assess the Foxes transfer dealings, tactical set-up, and of course, predict how we see this season panning out at the King Power.

Who’s In & Who’s Out

It is a financially uncertain time at Leicester, with a potential points deduction looming this season, it means that the former Premier League champions are working on a shoestring budget (to put it lightly).

Fortunately the squad is still made up of Premier League, and high-level Championship players, as well as a number of promising young stars ready to breakthrough. However, with the window still open, some of those individuals may need to be sold in order to balance the books.

A glaring omission from the squad for the upcoming season is Jamie Vardy, the club legend who announced that he would be leaving at the end of last season. Vardy, who scored 200 goals in 500 appearances for the Foxes, leaves behind a void and it remains to be seen if it can be filled.

Leicester City Incomings 2025/26 (Transfermarkt)

Leicester City Outgoings 2025/26 (Transfermarkt)

Sky Sports News understands Jamie Vardy does not want to play for a Championship club after leaving Leicester and believes he can still contribute to a Premier League team 🚨 pic.twitter.com/kpAkxU08pa

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 28, 2025

Tactical Outlook: What to Expect on the Pitch

On the pitch Leicester may still have the vast majority of last season's squad, but on the touchline, there is a new face in Marti Cifuentes.

Cifuentes, who impressed during his time at QPR, joined the Foxes in the summer and is looking to implement his possession/control-based system.

🦊 Who is Martí Cifuentes (@MCC14), Leicester City’s new head coach? A quick thread for Foxes fans:

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Cifuentes fell in love with football at five and never lost that joy. He began coaching at 20, guiding players just a few years younger than himself. More than two decades… pic.twitter.com/q9fNc153ct

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) July 17, 2025

In a division where Leicester will be expected to dictate most of the games, the engine room is important and is filled with experience. The doubts come from the ability to score goals in the post-Vardy era.

There is cause for excitement on the wings in Fatawu, Mavididi, El Khannouss and Monga, but Patson Daka, who will lead the line, has failed to set the world alight at striker during his time at the King Power.

Abdul Fatawu just casually doing this for Leicester in Pre Season😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/qZGYLppVuc

— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) August 3, 2025

Here is how we believe the Foxes will lineup:

Season Expectations & Predictions

Leicester's recent history has seen them win a Premier League title and an FA Cup, so no matter the turmoil off the field, there is always a sense of expectation to perform when heading into a new season.

There are few doubts around the experience in the squad, but the Championship has teams that are willing to splash the cash nowadays, so a return to the Premier League is anything but given.

Prediction

League Finish: 5th

Top Scorer: Abdul Fatawu

Breakout Star: Jeremy Monga

Nice play from 16-Year-Old Jeremy Monga in yesterday’s pre season game for Leicester.

Really looking forward to seeing him in the championship this season. pic.twitter.com/mPaTqrp0lR

— TheSecretScout (@TheSecretScout_) July 13, 2025