Leicester City have experienced a summer of change and one of those is the departure of first-choice goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
Marti Cifuentes wants to trim his squad and while they want to keep their best players, the allure of Premier League football was too much for Hermansen, who has joined West Ham United.
A Championship title winner during his time in the East Midlands, the Danish shot-stopper became a huge fan favourite at Leicester while catching eyes across Europe.
The Foxes began their season with a win against Sheffield Wednesday so managed to start well without the goalkeeper, who penned an emotional goodbye message to supporters.
Mads Hermansen in action for Leicester City vs Fiorentina in pre-season
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Mads Hermansen sends message to Leicester fans
It’s been a few days since the 25-year-old left to sign for West Ham and now that the dust has settled, Hermansen has penned an emotional message to supporters.
Writing on social media, he said: “I joined as a young man new to English football but what we achieved together in the Championship winning season will stay with me forever.
“I now leave having grown as a player and person and am so grateful for the support from everyone associated with the club. I have felt that from the very first day, and I will always be grateful for that.
“Thank you to the managers who I’ve had the chance to work with, to all the players I have learnt from and all the staff who always gives their everything to the club and us players.
“Thank you to the fans. The voices I heard behind me as we played, the support you gave me always meant so much.”
Leicester have put their faith in the academy
Thankfully for the Foxes, Hermansen’s replacement was already at Leicester.
Jakub Stolarczyk arrived from Poland as a teenager and the 24-year-old has been an apprentice biding his time before stepping up when his predecessor was injured.
Stolarczyk started the game against Wednesday and has been handed the number one shirt for the season, suggesting he will have a big part to play.