Newly-promoted Serie A club Cremonese has secured a sensational transfer, signing former Premier League champion Jamie Vardy as a free agent. The key questions now are: how will the Englishman integrate into the squad, who will be his new teammates, and how has Cremonese fared in the top flight so far?
According to Sunday`s reports, Cremonese has finalized a one-year contract with Vardy, which includes an option for an additional 12-month extension.
The 38-year-old forward is anticipated to arrive in Italy on Sunday night; there are no concerns regarding Monday`s transfer deadline as he is a free agent.
What Role Will Vardy Play at Cremonese?
The seasoned Englishman is expected to become a key player for his new club, though his debut might be delayed as he has had very little pre-season training.
Nevertheless, he will have ample opportunities to prove himself throughout the season, especially considering that Davide Nicola favors a 3-5-2 formation with two central forwards.
Nicola has already deployed two completely different striking partnerships in his first two Serie A matches: Federico Bonazzoli and David Okereke started in the surprising 2-1 victory over Milan, while Franco Vasquez and Antonio Sanabria led the line in Friday`s 3-2 win against Sassuolo.
However, Vardy, despite his age, will bring devastating pace for runs in behind and a lethal eye for goal – qualities that Cremonese`s current attacking options lack at this level.
Vardy`s Potential Teammates for the 2025-26 Season
Cremonese`s squad may not be brimming with household names outside of Serie A, but their summer transfer activity has been encouraging nonetheless.
La Cremo has successfully blended young talent with proven Serie A experience, bringing in players like Warren Bondo (on loan from Milan), center-back Federico Baschirotto, who scored against the Rossoneri, and Antonio Sanabria from Torino.
Giuseppe Pezzella and Alessio Zerbin further bolster the team with established Serie A experience, alongside players like Emil Audero and Milan`s promising youngster Filippo Terracciano.
In total, combining loan deals, permanent transfers, and free agents, Cremonese has signed 15 players so far, not including Vardy or Jeremy Sarmiento, who is also anticipated to join on loan before the transfer window closes.
Cremonese`s Impressive Season Start
Cremonese couldn`t have hoped for a better start to their Serie A campaign. After earning promotion from Serie B via the playoffs last season, Nicola`s team faced a challenging away fixture against Milan at San Siro but shocked Serie A with a surprising 2-1 victory over Massimiliano Allegri`s side.
This was then followed by another encouraging 3-2 victory over fellow newly-promoted side Sassuolo, secured by a 93rd-minute penalty on Friday night.
While they did lose to Palermo on penalties in the opening round of the Coppa Italia, this early exit might ultimately benefit the team in the long run, as they can now focus solely on Serie A matches until the end of the 2025-26 season.