Burnley have announced the signing of free agent Jamie Vardy.Vardy had been without a club all summer following his departure from Italian side Cremonese at the end of last season.Vardy has signed for Burnley to mark his return to English footballGettyThe Premier League-winning Leicester City legend had been linked with Everton and Wrexham during the transfer window.Sheffield Wednesday and Brazilian side Sao Paolo also appeared as potential next clubs for the ex-England international.However, out of nowhere, Burnley confirmed the arrival of 39-year-old Vardy in a shock announcement made on Sunday.On his move, Vardy said: “I’m really happy to now be here at Burnley.“This club has a proper footballing history and passionate fans who deserve a team that represents them and their town.“I can’t wait to get going on the pitch and help the team move in the right direction.”Burnley head coach Nicky Hayen added: “We are delighted to welcome Jamie to Burnley FC. “His experience and leadership will be invaluable to our squad, and we believe he can make a significant impact on our campaign. “Jamie has a proven track record, and we are looking forward to seeing him in a Claret shirt.”Vardy’s move to Turf Moor caught many off guard following the transfer deadline, with talkSPORT’s Perry Groves describing the switch as a ‘curveball’.View Tweet: https://x.com/BurnleyOfficial/status/2096591768515199305?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwVardy returns to England Vardy will be back playing in the EFL this season after joining Burnley a year after leaving Leicester at the end of his contract.The veteran striker left the King Power Stadium in April 2025, having played 500 games and scored 200 goals for the club. He won the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield across 13 years, also playing in the Champions League. But after leaving, he headed for Italy in a surprise move, spending a year in Serie A with Cremonese and playing 29 games. Vardy scored seven goals during his spell, which ended after just a year following the club’s relegation to Serie B. And that left him as a free agent, with him now returning to the Championship, where he has played 98 times and scored 38 goals previously, following a summer of transfer rumours.