Jamie Vardy signs for Burnley until end of season

Jamie Vardy has signed for Burnley until the end of the season, ending speculation that he would join Everton.

The 39-year-old had been a free agent since leaving Cremonese in the summer, following the Italian side's relegation to Serie B, where he scored seven goals in 29 Serie A appearances last term.

"This club has a proper footballing history and passionate fans who deserve a team that represents them and their town," Vardy said. "I can't wait to get going on the pitch and help the team move in the right direction."

Head coach Nicky Hayen called the signing significant. "We are delighted to welcome Jamie to Burnley," he said. "His experience and leadership will be invaluable to our squad, and we believe he can make a significant impact on our campaign. Jamie has a proven track record, and we are looking Forward to seeing him in a Claret shirt."

His return to English football also brings him close to home: Turf Moor is around 50 miles from Sheffield, where he grew up.

He arrives at a club that has just sold Zian Flemming, its top scorer with nine goals, to Ipswich Town, leaving an attack that also features Armando Broja, Marcus Edwards, Zeki Amdouni, Jacob Bruun Larsen and Chelsea loanee Dastan Satpayev. Burnley's next two fixtures take them to Wales, away to Wrexham and then Swansea City.

Whether a 39-year-old Forward can lift a side rooted to the bottom of the table is untested, but Vardy has form for defying his age bracket — he scored 18 goals in the Championship as recently as 2023-24.