Christian Fuchs to leave Leicester City at the end of next season

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: Christian Fuchs of Leicester City during the Carabao Cup Quarter-Final match between Leicester City and Manchester City at The King Power Stadium on December 19, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: Christian Fuchs of Leicester City during the Carabao Cup Quarter-Final match between Leicester City and Manchester City at The King Power Stadium on December 19, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Christian Fuchs has confirmed that he would be leaving Leicester City when his contract expires at the end of the 2018/19 season.

The Austrian international was signed by Claudio Ranieri on a free transfer from FC Schalke in 2015, as he won the Premier League in his first season at the club.

A mainstay in the side up until the last season, he has seen his appearances substantially decrease this season – something that you’d expect with a 32-year old.

With only a year now remaining on his current deal – which he extended by a year in 2016 – Christian Fuchs has announced that he’d be leaving Leicester City next season, probably for the MLS, so he can be with his family in New York.

"“I promised my wife I would be coming home. I also want to see my children growing up, it’s good we have Facetime because letters wouldn’t work.“It was already a big decision extending my contract one more year but it was a good thing for the family. I’ve enjoyed my time in Leicester, I’ve had the biggest success here and I love the club.“It’s never going to be the case I’m completely done; I love the club, the city and appreciate the people. Maybe I want to build a bit of my own legacy here.”"

Having made 108 appearances, scored two goals and assisted 12 so far, Christian Fuchs will leave as one of Leicester City’s great servants.

The left-back was a major figure in the title-winning campaign of 2015/16, forming a part of Ranieri’s famous back four of Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth and the Austrian himself.

This season, however, he has seen his playing time cut short by the emergence of Ben Chilwell, and Claude Puel’s rotation policy. Fuchs has made 26 appearances as opposed to Chilwell’s 32, who will very likely be the first choice left-back from next season.

Next: Leicester City need a strong reaction, says Claude Puel

The young Englishman still has a long way to go before he can be as complete as Fuchs, though, because of the obvious weaknesses in his game. 2018/19 may well be the breakthrough campaign that Ben Chilwell needs to go up a level.