Vardy Rolls Back the Years as Spurs' New Signing Struggles to Shine

All eyes were on Tottenham's £65 million signing Dominic Solanke as Spurs sought to showcase their revamped attack and push for a top-four finish. However, under the lights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday, it was a 37-year-old Premier League legend who stole the spotlight.

Jamie Vardy, the player many assumed was past his best, turned back the clock with a clinical performance that earned Leicester City a 1-1 draw. For Solanke, this was not the ideal debut he envisioned after his big-money move to fill the void left by Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich last summer. Though the former Bournemouth striker showed flashes of promise, the night ultimately belonged to the evergreen Vardy.

Tottenham had started brightly and were in full control for much of the first half. Pedro Porro’s well-placed strike gave the hosts a deserved lead as they pressed Leicester relentlessly. Solanke worked hard, linking play and moving into dangerous areas, but the final product was missing. Spurs fans will be hoping it’s only a matter of time before he finds his rhythm and brings the goals they crave.

Yet, as Spurs pushed for a second, it was Leicester’s first meaningful attack that shifted the momentum. Vardy, a player who has defied age and expectations throughout his career, once again delivered when it mattered most. Just before the hour mark, he ghosted into the box and met a pinpoint cross with a textbook header, leveling the score with his first touch of the game. It was classic Vardy—sharp, instinctive, and decisive.

With that goal, Vardy recorded his 104th Premier League strike since turning 30, all scored while wearing the Leicester shirt. His longevity and consistent excellence have cemented his status as one of the league’s greatest late bloomers, a player who thrives against the odds.

Speaking on Sky Sports after the match, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher did not mince words in his assessment. “I would imagine Vardy is Leicester’s greatest ever player. He is a special footballer,” Carragher remarked.

For Spurs, there are still positives to take from the game. Solanke showed glimpses of his potential and, with time, could prove to be the solution to their post-Kane problems. But on a night when youth was expected to shine, it was experience—and the relentless hunger of Jamie Vardy—that stole the headlines.