How many players Gary Rowett expects to leave Leicester City this summer | OneFootball

Leicester City boss Gary Rowett has revealed that there will be plenty of players leaving the club this summer, as they prepare for League One.

Leicester City are preparing for life in League One, after suffering an almost unthinkable relegation from the Championship in the 2025/26 season.

It's been a season to forget for the Foxes both on and off the pitch, with dismal performances being accompanied with a points deduction, which has ultimately seen them relegated from the second tier with two games remaining in this year's league campaign.

The club are set to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of their famous Premier League title win in the coming weeks, but relegation into the third tier of English football will disrupt those pre-planned celebrations.

Leicester most recently played in League One all the way back in the 2008/09 season, as they won promotion from the third tier at the first time of asking, following their relegation in the previous campaign.

The Leicester supporters will be desperate to see their side repeat that success next season, although they'll be well aware of the challenge ahead for them, particularly as they look to

The Foxes were one of the pre-season favourites to win promotion back into the Premier League this season after their relegation last term, and to see them relegated into League One will be hugely frustrating for their fans.

Gary Rowett issues Leicester City player update

Naturally for a club dropping into League One after back-to-back relegations, there will need to be a complete reset in terms of the playing squad, and Leicester City have plenty of players that are likely to be heading for the exit door in the near future.

Speaking to Leicestershire Live, Gary Rowett has issued an update on the future of some of the first-team squad, and it won't be at all surprising to hear his verdict.

"A lot of the players will leave. A lot of the players are loanees as well. There will be a natural freshening up the club in terms of the playing squad.

"Every football club across the land, whether they’re relegated or not, there’ll always be a couple of players who maybe feel a fresh start will benefit them, and maybe the club will feel a fresh start would benefit them. That’s natural at any football club."

Which Leicester City players will depart?

Leicester City have plenty of players that have frustrated the fanbase this season, with Jordan James being one of the few players to take away any credit from a forgetful league campaign on the whole.

However, James is one of those that will depart in the summer, as he's on loan with the Foxes from French side, Rennes. Joe Aribo, Aaron Ramsey, Dujuan Richards and Divine Mukasa are also on loan with Leicester, and will return to their parent clubs once the 2025/26 league campaign reaches a conclusion.

Players that are on sizeable wages that are out of contract at the end of the 2025/26 season such as Asmir Begovic, Patson Daka, Jordan Ayew, Jamaal Lascelles, and Ricardo Pereira are highly likely to end their stay with Leicester this summer, in what is a hugely disappointing way to depart.

Then, we come to the players that are likely to be attracting potential transfer interest from other clubs, and with Leicester's current wages in the first-team squad, it seems likely that the club will listen to offers for plenty of players.

The likes of Harry Winks, Stephy Mavididi, Caleb Okoli, Abdul Fatawu, Ben Nelson, and Jeremy Monga are likely to be wanted by other clubs this summer, with Fatawu in particular being linked with moves away in previous transfer windows and representing a considerable sellable asset to help the Foxes raise fresh funds.

A complete reset is needed at Leicester this summer, and it's no surprise to hear from Rowett that departures are likely. With cost-cutting measures within the first-team squad being needed, it'll be a busy, and challenging summer ahead for the Foxes, and given the competitive nature of League One, it's not a given that they'll return to the second tier at the first time of asking, so they'll have to recruit smartly.