Jamie Vardy gives first Burnley signing interview

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Jamie Vardy has given his first interview to sign for Burnley since leaving Italian side Cremonese.

In November, he became the first English player to win the Serie A Player of the Month award and ended the season with seven league goals, but unfortunately failed to keep the club ahead.

On September 6, 2026, he returned to England and signed a season-long contract with the English Championship team Burnley as a free agent.

Burnley said in a club statement: “Burnley Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of experienced forward Jamie Vardy on a contract until the end of the season.

“The 39-year-old, who played for Cremonese in Serie A last season and is known for his explosive pace, clinical finishing and relentless work ethic, will bring a wealth of experience to Turf Moor.

Head coach Nicky Hayne expressed his excitement at the signing: “We are delighted to welcome Jamie to Burnley Football Club. His experience and leadership will be invaluable to our squad and we are confident he can make a significant impact on our campaign. Jamie has a proven track record and we look forward to seeing him in the claret shirt.”

Vardy shared his enthusiasm for joining the club: “I’m delighted to now be at Burnley Football Club.

“This club has a rich football history and passionate fans and they deserve a team that represents them and their town.

“I can’t wait to get out there and help this team move in the right direction.”

interviewer:Jamie, welcome. It’s great to have you here at Burnley Football Club. How does it feel to be a part of that?

Jamie: Yeah, I’m really excited. Obviously training is underway now, so it’s all about getting ready for Saturday.

interviewer: Please tell us how this measure came about. I think we had a lot of interest from a lot of clubs over the summer, but what about that first conversation with a club?

Jamie: No, they’re fine. Yes, I want to spend some time with my family. We don’t really have a chance to do that in the summer. So, I stayed away from it for as long as possible. Putting myself forward as usual, knowing I still wanted to play and finding out that Burnley were interested in me, getting the phone call, the Zoom call. So, it didn’t happen overnight. It turns out that this was all planned before.

interviewer: There are some familiar faces here. You played against Kyle Walker, Barnes, and even Jack Coker, one of the coaches, over the years. Did you have any sort of conversation with any of the lads who were already there?

Jamie: Yeah, I obviously came to Wrexham and watched the game for the first time that night. So I had a brief chat with all of them and chatted about everything the lads love. So they’re the first thing you really need to talk about and then just get out on the training ground and make sure you connect with everybody.

interviewer: Most recently you spent last season in the Italian Serie A. What was that experience like for you as a player and as a person there?

Jamie: Yes, it was an experience. If I’m honest, I’m glad I tried it. In the end it didn’t work out. You know, the goal wasn’t met, and that’s one of the reasons I came home. But just playing different styles of football in different countries, if anything, might have made me a better player because I don’t think you can be told to learn.

interviewer:Obviously being a well-known figure in football, fans will know who you are, but just describe yourself as a person and what to expect in a dressing room that you are familiar with on and off the pitch.

Jamie: Yes, the first and most important thing is that you have to give 100% effort. You have to put in the effort and let your abilities do the rest. I’m sure there will be a lot of opposition fans who won’t appreciate some of these celebrations.

interviewer: Look at your journey too. The football pyramid starts from the bottom all the way to the top. Winning the Premier League, winning trophies. What drives you, now 39, to move on and start a new chapter with Burnley?

Jamie: No, it’s hunger. I’m doing something I love doing. I like playing football. I always say when my legs tell me that’s enough, then I’m not stupid. I’d stop there, but I’ve stayed healthy. I’ll take care of myself. The legs are still good so I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we get a result on game day.

interviewer: The man of speech spoke passionately about the senior role given to experienced players in the dressing room and within the squad. Do you enjoy playing this role and having this responsibility and being one of those people that they look up to that they can be a part of?

Jamie: I don’t know, to be honest, I don’t think about it personally. I just knew I needed to do what I already did. Make sure I give it my all and then you hope the lads see that as young lads and it brings everyone together going forward.

interviewer: You know the champion very well. I know you played a lot of time in the Premier League but you also had a few promotions at Leicester City, what was that? How do you think the league experience would benefit you if you joined the team?

Jamie: It’s going to be tough, but I think like you just said, the guys around here have been there, done it and know what to expect because it’s a long season. It’s a real hard-fought feast. So just having that experience shows the lads that, yes, there’s a game every three days, but it’s something you get used to.

interviewer: I know you weren’t at Tuesday night’s game but as you mentioned you were obviously at the game to support the lads and meet some of the fans and see what’s going on in the dressing room before the game. How do you feel about Tuesday night?

Jamie: No, no, I thought I felt fine. Great performance. I think we were unfortunate not to stay honest, but I think we just stopped doing some of the basic work that we kept doing in the first half. So, this is just one of them. It’s about consistency. Now you have to make sure you can turn the first 45 points into a perfect 90 points.

interviewer:Swansea this weekend. This is your first chance to put your boots back on and return to England to play in the Championship. I think you must have enjoyed it. Are you excited about this?

Jamie: Yes. Yes, absolutely. Definitely a blast for it. Obviously, it depends on the manager and the team he chooses, but whatever I’m asked to do, I’ll make sure I’m 100% ready.

interviewer: Next weekend it will be your first game at Turf Moor as a Burnley player. You’ve played a few games there over the years and scored some important goals against Burnley. Are you looking forward to wearing the burgundy and blue shirt this time around?

Jamie: Yes. Yes, 100%. Every time I play against Burnley the crowd always support the lads loudly and I think that’s what we need. We do need that, but we have a responsibility to engage performers to make sure they support us.

interviewer: Finally, the fans were obviously very excited when you joined the club. What would you like to say to your supporters?

Jamie: I really can’t wait to get started and I will give it my all 100%. Even if that’s me hitting a brick wall myself.



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