Leicester City struck gold with £6.4m deal for star who became an EFL cheat-code: View | OneFootball

Stephy Mavididi was a driving force in the EFL for LCFC in their title win. 12 goals, 6 assists - He proved too good for the Championship

Leicester City hit the jackpot after signing Stephy Mavididi, with the winger playing a major part in the Foxes' Championship title win.

The 26-year-old joined from Ligue 1 side Montpellier in the summer of 2023 for a fee of €7.5 million (£6.4 million), according to Foot Mercato.

Mavididi has been a revelation at the King Power Stadium and was an integral part of Enzo Maresca's Championship winning side.

Flourishing on the left wing, he felt like a cheat code at points in the 2023/24 campaign and will now be hoping he can replicate his successes on the Premier League stage.

One thing is for sure, Championship defenders will be glad to see the back of him.

Stephy Mavididi hit the ground running at Leicester City

The Foxes caught the attention of Mavididi after his three seasons in France. His ability to consistently cause issues for opposition defences and the quality he showed in the final third meant he fast became a fixture in Maresca's side. A winger with flair in the Championship can be a real asset and he had this in abundance.

He hit the ground running straight with the Foxes, assisting Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's winner on the opening day against Coventry City.

After drawing out the defender, he played a quick pass for Dewsbury-Hall, whilst making an intelligent dummy run to allow the midfielder to fire home. It would prove a sign of things to come for Championship backlines.

He went on to score the winner in the Foxes' second game versus Huddersfield Town and played brilliantly against Southampton in a 4-1 victory at St. Mary's as Leicester built up a head of steam.

As Maresca's side showed their quality in the second tier, Mavididi's eye-catching performances were front and centre.

Mavididi was too good for the Championship but showed signs of inconsistentcy

A brilliant start to the season established the Leicester winger as one of the Championship's major threats but consistency would become an issue.

Two goals and two assists in his first six games would become eight goals and four assists by the turn of the year as the Foxes stepped up their promotion push.

Mavididi bagged found the net twice more by the end of January but hit a barren spell, failing to add either a goal or an assist in nine games between February and April.

That form contributed to Leicester's late-season wobble and Maresca did not shy away from making it clear that he expected more from his star attacker.

The manager, who has now moved on to Chelsea, was happy to send him a message in an interview with Leicestershire Live in March.

He said: "Stephy has to improve a little bit, his body language.

"It’s part of the season where he’s not been at his best. For some weeks, he’s been very good. It’s something normal, when you are in March and you play almost 45 games, between the Championship, Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.

"They are human beings and sometimes during the season they can be tired. It is what it is."

Ultimately, however, form is temporary and class is permanent, which Mavididi proved as he came good when it mattered.

The wide player rediscovered his attacking touch in the final throes of the 2024/25 campaign – scoring twice and providing two assists in the last eight games to help Leicester win the Championship title and secure promotion back to the Premier League.

Mavididi can live up to his Premier League potential

There were ups and downs but Mavididi proved he was a level above in the Championship – finishing the campaign with 12 goals and six assists as well as countless defences left in his wake.

His next test is to transfer his form onto the Premier League stage.

New boss Steve Cooper will want to see the same Mavididi that shone in the second tier but the step up has proven too much to manage for many a Championship cheat-code in the past.