League One favourites Leicester City have gone into the transfer market for the first time this summer by capturing former Ipswich Town man Conor Chaplin on a free transfer.
The Foxes will be determined to get back on track this season after a couple of disastrous campaigns that has seen them fall from the Premier League into the third tier.
Russell Martin, who took Southampton into the top flight in 2024, has taken the reins at the King Power Stadium and will be looking to rebuild his own reputation after an unsuccessful spell in the Scottish Premiership with Rangers.
Chaplin, who left Portman Road following the expiry of his contract, is looking forward to being part of the rebuilding plan after becoming Leicester's first summer signing.
Foxes favourites for title
Following their relegation, the Foxes are 11/4 to win League One this season, while Sheffield Wednesday, who had a dismal 2025-26 in the Championship, finishing rock-bottom, are 6/1 for outright glory with Luton, who suffered their own double relegation the season before last, available to win the third tier at 8/1.
Chaplin, who spent the whole of last season on loan at his first club Portsmouth, said: "Leicester City is a massive club with a brilliant fanbase, which has been obvious to me every time I’ve competed against them.
"I’m extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to play for this great club, and I will give everything, every day, to achieve what we set out to achieve."
Experienced Chaplin an ideal new face
Chaplin joined Pompey when he was just six years old and moved all the way through the system to make his senior debut for the south coast club in 2014.
He helped them earn promotion from League Two before he joined Coventry and eventually Barnsley, who finished fifth in the Championship in 2021, to claim a play-off place.
At the end that season, he moved to Ipswich and was a big hit in the 2022-23 campaign when he scored 26 league goals to help the Tractor Boys into the Championship.
He went on to represent the Suffolk team in the Premier League after a double promotion and he scored the first top-flight goal upon their return to the big time in a defeat to Bournemouth.
However, Chaplin was sent out on loan back Portsmouth at the end of last season, where he scored two goals in 36 Championship appearances, and his move to the East Midlands comes after his Portman Road deal was not renewed.
'Desire to help the team in any way'
And now the 29-year-old from Worthing, who joins the Foxes on a deal until 2029, is relishing the opportunity for some first-team football in the third tier.
He added: "I like to play with an all-in attitude, energy, and a desire to help the team in any way I can. I’m looking forward to showing the supporters what I can bring.
"I can’t wait to meet the lads, get out on the training pitch with the manager and his staff to help this team as much as I can."
Cobblers first up for Foxes in EFL Cup
The Foxes begin their season with a home Carabao Cup tie against fellow East Midlands outfit Northampton Town on August 8th, and their opening league encounter is a lunchtime clash up the A46 at Notts County on August 15th.
Martin’s team are 21/20 to get their League One season off to a winning start, while the Magpies are 12/5 with a draw rated as a 9/4 chance.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
