Leicester City slipped to the Championship for the second time in three seasons earlier this year. After the highs of a Premier League title win, European football and an FA Cup triumph, LCFC are a club desperate for a revival.
The ownership at the King Power Stadium has come under intense criticism in recent times. And, with the Foxes 12th in the Championship table, summer appointment Marti Cifuentes has come under scrutiny too.
Transfer business must be strengthened if City are to have any chance of returning to their previous heights. That means departures are required, ideally starting from the January window.
Here, we put forward three Leicester City players who seem destined to depart in 2026, and may have already played their last games for the club…
Woyo Coulibaly:
Players who move out on loan following relegation often end up moving on for good upon their return. One man who left Leicester City on loan in the summer was Woyo Coulibaly, joining Sassuolo in Serie A.
The 26-year-old found it difficult to make an impact at the King Power Stadium following his winter arrival. He is under contract for a good while with his current deal up in 2029, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Malian moves on for good.
Such a move likely won’t come this winter given his Sassuolo deal is season-long. Come next summer though, Coulibaly may not pull on LCFC blue again.
Wanya Marcal:
Now 23, winger Marcal is still yet to cement his place in the Leicester City first-team squad. He has made just one matchday squad under Cifuentes, remaining an unused substitute in the win over Charlton Athletic in August.
The former Portuguese youth international has shown he can be a bright spark and could find success with a permanent move elsewhere. He’s at the age where he simply needs to play, and such opportunities are not coming in Leicestershire.
When January arrives, Marcal could leave on loan or permanently. His deal expires in 2026.
Bilal El Khannouss:
Last but not least is Bilal El Khannouss, who joined VfB Stuttgart on a loan-to-buy deal in the summer.
Leicester City fans will have had hopes the talented Moroccan could be a big asset for the long run. He was one of few 2024 signings to be a hit in the Premier League, but their relegation meant an exit to a higher level was inevitable.
The 21-year-old has four goals and three assists in 13 games for Stuttgart. His buy option includes conditions that need to be met, but it is hard to see him pulling on Leicester City colours again regardless.