Leicester make FIRST outfield signing of the summer in Wout Faes

Leicester make their FIRST outfield signing of the summer as Reims defender Wout Faes arrives on a five-year deal to fill the void left by £70m Chelsea star Wesley Fofana

  • Brendan Rodgers has added to his defence with the signing of Wout Faes
  • Leicester City sold Wesley Fofana to Chelsea and needed to sign a replacement
  • Faes was developed at Anderlecht but arrives following a spell with Reims 

Leicester City have sealed a deadline day swoop for Reims defender Wout Faes on a five-year-deal.

Boss Brendan Rodgers has been frustrated at his side’s lack of movement throughout the transfer window but Faes arrives to bolster a backline that saw Wesley Fofana leave for Chelsea in a £70m deal on Wednesday. 

Speaking to LCFC TV, the 24-year-old said: ‘It’s an amazing feeling [to be here]; it’s not sunk in yet. This is the dream step in my career and I’m very happy to be here. 

Reims defender Wout Faes has penned a five-year deal to join Leicester City this summer

Faes marks the first outfield player that Brendan Rodgers has been able to bring in this summer

Faes marks the first outfield player that Brendan Rodgers has been able to bring in this summer

‘I’m progressing year after year, and I hope to continue doing the same here. All the facilities and knowledge is here to help me to get even better. 

‘I will have to work hard, but I will give 100 per cent to help the team.’ 

He added: ‘When I drove into the training ground, I had goosebumps straight away.

‘Some people already told me the training ground is amazing. I, on purpose, didn’t look on the internet, but when I saw it, it’s an amazing feeling. 

‘It’s not sunk in yet. This is the dream step in my career and I’m very happy to be here.’

Leicester will be relieved to have finally made an outfield signing this summer. 

Their only previous piece of business in this window saw them take on goalkeeper Alex Smithies on a free. 

Faes was nurtured in Anderlecht’s youth academy a decade ago and he came through the ranks alongside Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans. 

Wesley Fofana quit Leicester City for Chelsea in a huge £69.5million deal on Wednesday

Wesley Fofana quit Leicester City for Chelsea in a huge £69.5million deal on Wednesday

From there he joined Dutch side Heerenveen on loan in January 2017, before a season-long loan at Excelsior the following season

A switch to Oostende in Belgium was next on his radar before he took his talents to Reims in January 2020.

Faes went on to make 75 appearances for Reims, scoring five goals.

He was voted the club’s Player of the Season at the end of the 2021-22 campaign.

Faes is a Belgium international having made his debut in their 6-1 Nations League victory over Poland in June.

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk