Vardy at 39 weighs Sao Paulo, MLS and Sheffield Wednesday return after Cremonese exit
Jamie Vardy is a free agent after leaving Italian side Cremonese and is weighing up several offers, including interest from Brazilian giants Sao Paulo, at least one MLS club, West Ham, and a potential homecoming to boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday.
Jamie Vardy is without a club after his contract at Cremonese expired, but the 39-year-old has no intention of retiring and is assessing offers from clubs on both sides of the Atlantic. The former England striker scored seven Serie A goals during his single season in Italy, ending a 13-year association with Leicester City that began in 2012.
Sao Paulo
The most eye-catching approach came from Brazil, where Sao Paulo have reportedly reached out to gauge Vardy’s interest. The São Paulo giants are seeking attacking reinforcements after going six games without a win, and Vardy would join former Premier League players Lucas Moura and Cedric Soares in their squad.
MLS
At least one American club is also keen on Vardy, according to reports. A move to Major League Soccer would remove the language barrier he faced in Italy and place him in a market where he already has business ties — in 2021 he became a co-owner of the Rochester Rhinos, later rebranded as Rochester New York FC.
West Ham
Back in England, West Ham are understood to be interested. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are pushing for an immediate return to the Premier League and could benefit from Vardy’s experience in the second tier — he scored 18 Championship goals as part of the Leicester squad that won promotion in 2024.
Sheffield Wednesday
Perhaps the most emotionally charged option is Sheffield Wednesday, the club Vardy grew up supporting and whose academy he came through. Wednesday’s new owner David Storch has been open about his desire to bring Vardy to Hillsborough. “Yes, Jamie is somebody that we would like to have in our club,” Storch told talkSPORT. “Let’s just say he’d be somebody that we would be thrilled to have.”
The bigger picture
Vardy’s career arc — non-league footballer to Premier League title winner and England international — remains one of the sport’s most unlikely success stories. Now approaching 40, he appears determined to add one more chapter rather than step away quietly. Which direction he chooses will likely depend on personal and family considerations as much as football ones, but the options available to him suggest his market value, even at this stage, remains real.
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