Jamie Vardy: Career, Net Worth, Awards & Family

If there were a plan to make a Hollywood movie about a footballer who rose to riches from rags, Jamie Vardy could be a perfect inspiration. His ascent from non-league football to a title-winning and goal-scoring phenomenon in the Premier League is straight out of a film script.

Sheffield-born Jamie Vardy worked his way to the top of the English game after plenty of struggles and rejections. Vardy is not only a top footballer but also an enigmatic entertainer. He just doesn’t go by the routine of a professional footballer, but still manages to outdo most of them on the pitch. The Leicester City legend is about to hit free agency on July 1st when his contract ends with the Foxes.
As Jamie Vardy is getting ready to take the next step in his career, let's take a look at his family, life, footballing journey, and achievements:

Who is Jamie Vardy?

Jamie Richard Vardy is a professional footballer who will be a free agent soon. The enigmatic striker is ending his 13-year stay with Leicester City, who dropped to the Championship recently. Vardy is a source of inspiration to non-league footballers who aspire to make it big in the English Football League one day. He even launched a V9 Academy in 2019 to mentor and coach non-league footballers into getting a professional contract. Simply put, he is one of English football’s greatest stories. Born on 11 January 1987, Jamie Vardy's age is currently 38.

Jamie Vardy Net Worth

Jamie Vardy used to be just another footballer till he was in the non-league structure. He rose to fame when he helped Leicester fly to the Premier League. After the club became the top-division champion in 2016, Vardy emerged as the poster boy of English football. He signed a sponsorship deal with sportswear giant Nike. Jamie Vardy's net worth saw a significant rise after he was also onboarded by audio brand Beats by Dre.
Vardy also signed a bumper contract with Leicester as his market value skyrocketed. He also earned his fortune from his V9 Academy, his autobiography “From Nowhere: My Story,” and a couple of endorsement deals like the one he had with the chips brand Walkers.
All included, Jamie Vardy Net Worth stands at an approximate £60 million, according to Salary Sport. Vardy lives a luxurious life as the footballer owns a Bentley Continental GT and has a decorated villa in England as well as Portugal.

What is Jamie Vardy Salary?

Jamie Vardy's Salary at Leicester City hit its peak after they won the Premier League. One of the major highlights of Jamie Vardy career was his Golden Boot-winning season in 2020. After the club suffered relegation, Vardy's contract was halved. Expect a hefty drop in wages when the veteran striker signs for a new club as a free agent.

Jamie Vardy Playing Style and Strengths

When combined with his blistering pace, Jamie Vardy has been a nightmare for defenders. He excels at running in behind the back line, often timing his movements perfectly to exploit defensive gaps. His speed and anticipation make him one of the most dangerous players on the counterattack. Despite not being known for his physique, he holds the ball up well due to his strong first touch and surprising physical strength. Vardy is also known for his relentless pressing and exceptional work rate—qualities every manager values.

He often attributes his durability in top-flight football to his early days in non-league football. However, his off-field behavior has occasionally drawn criticism. Known for heavy drinking and partying in his early career, Vardy was once involved in a racism controversy and an assault incident outside a pub. Though his managers attempted to rein in his lifestyle, he began to change his behavior following the birth of his daughter, Ella.

Vardy has admitted he's not one to obsess over fitness routines or strict diets. Famously, Vardy once drank a Red Bull at halftime of the 2024/25 season opener against Tottenham Hotspur—and then scored in the second half to earn his team a draw. That moment encapsulates the essence of Jamie Vardy: unconventional, unpredictable, yet undeniably effective.

Jamie Vardy Family and Early Life

Jamie Vardy was born in Sheffield to Richard Gill and Lisa Clewes as Jamie Gill. Richard walked out on the family when Jamie was still an infant. His mother later married Phil Vardy, and Jamie took his stepfather’s surname. Phil was a crane worker, and his mother worked at a solicitor’s office as Vardy grew up in the Hillsborough area of Sheffield.
Vardy was a massive fan of local club Sheffield Wednesday growing up and idolized striker David Hirst. It made Vardy become a striker. As a Wednesday fan, Vardy got a chance to score and celebrate wildly against Sheffield United in a 2-1 win later in his career. While Vardy was pursuing non-League football, he worked as a technician making medical splints to make ends meet.

Who is Jamie Vardy’s Wife?

Jamie Vardy met Rebekah Nicholson in 2014 while she was working as a nightclub promoter. They started dating as soon as sparks flew. The couple had a grand wedding at Peckforton Castle in 2016.
Vardy and his wife Rebekah have three children and one from his previous relationship. He is also the stepfather of Rebekah’s two children from her previous relationships. The couple was caught in an infamous scandal known as the “Wagatha Christie” case with Wayne Rooney’s wife, Coleen Rooney. They were accused of leaking private information about the Rooneys to a newspaper and were taken to court, where they lost the case and had to pay a substantial fine.

Jamie Vardy Career

Jamie Vardy career path was as unconventional as it gets.. He became a Premier League player at the late age of 27. This might have helped him maintain longevity and achieve success only a few could dream of. Vardy even had a successful but short-lived stint with the English National team.

Club Career

Vardy joined his favorite club, Sheffield Wednesday’s academy, as a teenager. He was released at 16 as he failed to make the cut. Thus, his non-league journey began as Vardy joined Stocksbridge Park Steels, who compete in the Northern Premier League. He broke out in the 2008-09 season as he scored 55 goals for the club, helping them win the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup. He spent a week on trial with Crewe Alexandra, but the move didn’t materialize.
Jamie Vardy then signed for FC Halifax Town in 2010 and won the Northern Premier League Premier Division title. He finished with 25 goals, winning the club’s Player of the Season award. It prompted clubs in the higher tiers to take note, and Fleetwood Town signed him in 2012. Vardy took the division by storm by scoring 31 goals to win the Golden Boot and win a first-ever promotion to the Football League.
Vardy drew a non-League record fee of £1 million when he joined the Championship club Leicester in 2012. It was the start of a love story as he became a legend with the Foxes. He helped them win a promotion to the Premier League in 2014 with 16 league goals. As the club entered the Premier League, Vardy was the talk of the town as he played in the lowest tiers before reaching the top. However, it wasn’t the end of the story as Vardy was just getting started. He helped his side survive the drop in 2015 with some dramatic goals and winners.
It set the stage for the biggest miracle in the history of the sport. Leicester City were backed at 5000-1 as the winners of the league before a ball was kicked. Jamie Vardy was playing with relatively unknown as the time who would go on to become world-class players like Riyad Mahrez and N’golo Kante. Claudio Ranieri’s men were a mix of aggression and caution. With Jamie Vardy leading the way with his key goals, they rose to the top of the table.
Vardy broke Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 10 consecutive Premier League games by making it 11. His incredible run included him scoring memorable winners at Manchester United, Crystal Palace, and Watford. His breathtaking volley from the edge of the box against Liverpool sent the King Power Stadium into raptures as they started believing they could win the league. Vardy helped his side complete the race as they spectacularly lifted the title. He was the FWA Footballer of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season.
Vardy stayed at the club despite interest from Arsenal, as many of his title-winning teammates left. He even scored in the quarter-final of the Champions League against Atletico Madrid as his side were eventually eliminated in 2017. He spent the next season after signing a great contract with his side.
Vardy scored his 100th Premier League goal in 2019 and became the first Leicester player to do so. He won the Golden Boot for the first time with 23 strikes. He is still the oldest recipient of the award. They won the FA Cup in 2021 as Vardy added one more title to his collection. The Foxes won the 2021 Community Shield as well.
Leicester City suddenly lost its charm as the club found itself in a relegation fight. Vardy was constantly battling injuries as he entered his mid-30s. They took a toll as his side was relegated in 2023, ending a near-decade stay in the top flight. Under Enzo Maresca, Vardy assumed captaincy and led them straight back to the Premier League.
Vardy, who has become a club legend already, scored 9 goals for them in a miserable campaign. He announced his intention to leave the club on a free as they were relegated. Vardy certainly had a poetic end as he played his 500th game for Leicester City on the exact date he signed for them 13 years ago. He scored his 200th goal for the club before leaving to a standing ovation in the 80th minute in his final Foxes’ appearance.
There is a lot of interest from Premier League clubs like Everton, Leeds, and even from outside England as he becomes a free agent on July 1st. Some career, eh?

International Career

Jamie Vardy received his first England call-up in 2015. He made his debut against the Republic of Ireland. He scored his first goal against Germany in a 3-2 win. He made his tournament debut at the 206 Euros and scored the equalizer in a 2-1 win against Wales. Vardy went to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he only had a sparing role. He stepped away from the National team to focus on his club career later that year.

Jamie Vardy Awards and Achievements

Jamie Vardy’s award list would leave many wondering how he struggled in the non-League phase for so long. He broke Ruud van Nistelrooy’s scoring record to win a Guinness World Record. He even played under Nistelrooy’s management this year. He regularly won awards like the Goal of the Month and Player of the Season.