How is ex-Leicester City star Ayoze Perez getting on since leaving the King Power Stadium? | OneFootball

Leicester City had endured a summer of change in terms of managerial and playing personnel following relegation from the Premier League, but for all concerned, the change has proved extremely beneficial as we go into the third international break of 2023/24.

From a Foxes point of view, Enzo Maresca's new-look side sit top of the Championship after 16 games, ahead of Ipswich Town on goal difference after suffering back-to-back 1-0 defeats at the hands of Leeds United and Middlesbrough, but are still fancied by many to make an immediate return to the top flight.

As for those who departed the King Power Stadium, the likes of James Maddison's performances for Spurs prior to his recent injury have been well-documented as a result of Ange Postecoglu's side's strong start, but there are a number of players who also left who haven't gained as much recognition for their performances after seeking a new challenge.

With that in mind, FLW analyses the performances of Ayoze Perez since he left the East Midlands.

How did Ayoze Perez perform for Leicester City?

Perez made his move from Newcastle United to Leicester back in the summer of 2019, signing a four-year deal after the Foxes paid £30m to acquire his services after establishing himself at Premier League level following the Geordies' promotion in 2016/17.

His first season in the East Midlands would go on to be his best in terms of G+A, finding the net eight times in 33 Premier League games, as well as accumulating four assists as Brendan Rodgers' side finished 5th, despite being in the Champions League places for a large portion of the season.

However, Perez would only score four more times in the league across two full seasons, but did score once in Leicester's FA Cup success in 2021, as well as starting in the final against Chelsea.

In Leicester's relegation season, the Spaniard would only feature eight times in the early months of the season, before joining Real Betis on loan prior to the expiration of his contract this summer, where he would make the move permanent.

How has Perez performed since leaving Leicester City?

If you include his loan spell from the Foxes to the Seville-based La Liga outfit, Perez has scored seven times in the league - three of which came last season to aid Los Verdiblancos' eventual sixth-place finish, and therefore sealing qualification to the UEFA Europa League for a second successive campaign.

This season, Perez has a total of four league goals to his name, two of which have come in the last two games, including a strike against bitter rivals Sevilla in 'El Gran Derbi' on Sunday afternoon. The winger also has one goal and an assist to his name in the Europa League this season, with both contributions coming in consecutive fixtures against Aris Limassol.

He has started in all but one La Liga game this season, racking up a total of 993 minutes, almost three times as many as he recorded during his final months as a Leicester City player.

As a result of his steady performances in green and white, the 30-year-old has an average rating of 7.15 so far this season as per Sofascore, averaging two big chances per 90 minutes, and an average of 12.6 accurate passes in the opposition's half.