The final game of the regular Championship season for Leicester City fans was an opportunity to say goodbye to some long-lasting Foxes servants, such as Ricardo Pereira.
Indeed, the Foxes away faithful applauded the Portuguese defender off the pitch at the end of the 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers, but the final game of the season also gave Leicester fans the glimpse of the new blood coming through the club's ranks.
Gary Rowett is unlikely to be here next season, but the likes of Louis Page will benefit from relegation occurring, as the exciting 17-year-old was given a runout in Lancashire, among other promising youth talents.
The youngsters who stood out vs Blackburn
Page would be gifted 59 minutes of action, as the bruising 2025/26 season finally wrapped up, and his performance will encourage the Foxes masses, heading into the brand-new campaign.
He will surely be handed more chances to impress in the third tier, as he managed to amass three key passes from barely an hour of action against the Riversiders. He even fired one effort at the Blackburn goal, with the teenager hopefully playing unshackled next season.
Leicester might have a fight on their hands to keep Jeremy Monga around, with Liverpool previously interested, but there will be a spot for him to shine if he does stay, with three goal contributions next to his name in the Championship, despite only being the tender age of 17.
Second-half cameos were also chucked the way of the likes of Olabade Aluko, as Leicester perhaps looks more inward in trying to solve the rot at the heart of the King Power operation.
The cream of the crop of Leicester's youth is out on loan actually, with the exciting playmaker ready to get stuck into the high intensity of the League Two playoffs, to show he belongs in the Foxes' first team picture in League One.
The cream of the crop is still out on loan
Sammy Baybrooke is definitely on the more senior end of the youth talents coming through at Leicester, right now, with the Leicester-born midfielder being 22 years of age.
Despite having 17 goal contributions next to his name for the U21s, he has unfortunately only ever featured in the senior ranks once, back in 2022, when he featured against Newport County in the EFL Cup.
He played against Newport this season, on loan with Chesterfield, and the Spireites' number 36 looks destined for more chances at the King Power, when looking at his stylish displays in such an attritional division.
On the final day of the regular season, to help Chesterfield clinch a playoff spot, Baybrooke was equal levels of grit and style, with two shots and 34 passes amassed, matched by a willingness to win nine tackles and duels for the cause in a big 2-1 win.
Congrats to Sammy Braybrooke who helps chesterfield into the play offs
— Leicester Xtra (@XtraLeicester) May 2, 2026
He could be the key next season for Leicester (if we keep him) https://t.co/FJi02mtn7l
With six goal contributions his tally for the full season, away from this victory on the road at Swindon Town, Paul Cook will be relying on Baybrooke to deliver the goods and give his all again, as Chesterfield's playoff campaign gets underway on Sunday evening.
He could lead from the front for his parent club next season, with the attacking midfielder - who has had wild Andres Iniesta comparisons - just the model of player Leicester should be priortising having around the first team, to break out of their current malaise.
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