Leicester City have finalized their initial sale of the summer with Conor Coady transferring to Championship competitors Wrexham.
The center-back’s deal is reported to be worth £2m to City and marks the beginning of trimming their oversized roster ahead of the new Championship season.
Manager Marti Cifuentes is eager to reduce his group to a manageable size, with 30 players utilized in his first three pre-season matches and more expected to return from injury.
Coady, who had one year remaining on his City contract, had been a target for Scottish giants last month but will remain in the EFL, signing a two-year deal with ambitious Wrexham, who have returned to the second tier after three consecutive promotions.
In announcing Coady’s move, City stated: “An experienced and respected figure within the dressing room during his time with the Club, the England international departs with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at Leicester City for the next chapter of his career in Wales.”
The England international’s two years at City have been far from ideal, with an injury shortly after his £7.5m arrival from Everton costing him his place in Enzo Maresca’s promotion-winning team. He was in and out of the lineup last season and departs with a total of 43 appearances and two goals to his name.
However, his exit does not leave City lacking at center-back with Ben Nelson, Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes, and Caleb Okoli fit and available to select from.
Additionally, Harry Souttar is expected to recover from injury later in the year while Bade Aluko has stood out in pre-season.
City have only made one addition themselves so far this pre-season, with veteran goalkeeper Asmir Begovic reuniting with Cifuentes, and further signings will arrive when departures create openings in the squad.
A total of 13 senior players left City the last time they were relegated, either on free transfers, for fees, or on loan.
Coady will be just the fourth senior player to depart the club this summer, following Jamie Vardy, Danny Ward, and Daniel Iversen, who exited at the end of their contracts in June.