Vardy has signed for Burnley in the Championship on a deal until the end of the season, making his return to English football as a free agent.
The 39-year-old spent last season at Italian club Cremonese before departing and becoming available without a transfer fee.
A return to Leicester, where he won the Premier League in 2016 and the FA Cup in 2021 during a 13-year stay, was discussed in the summer but Vardy ultimately ruled it out.
He commented on the prospect in June, saying: “I think that’s gone. I’ll always support them, always follow them. I think that’s the best thing I can do now.”
Burnley were relegated from the Premier League last season and have endured a difficult start to their Championship campaign under manager Nicky Hayen.
The club sit bottom of the Championship table without a win from their opening five games, most recently suffering a defeat against Bristol City on Saturday.
Vardy will be 40 in January and has shown no desire to hang up his boots despite building a busy career away from the pitch in recent months.
His podcast, Jamie Vardy’s Having A Party, generated significant headlines last week after Mike Dean spoke candidly about his experiences as a Premier League referee, and the show has also secured broadcast rights for a Bundesliga watch-along.
Vardy and his wife Rebekah have also featured in an ITV reality series and been the subject of a Netflix documentary, making him one of the more prominent footballers in the wider entertainment space.
Despite those growing interests off the pitch, Vardy has always maintained his intention to keep playing, having made his Football League debut at 25 after signing for Leicester as a late bloomer.
“This club has a proper footballing history and passionate fans who deserve a team that represents them and their town,” Vardy said upon joining Burnley.
“I can’t wait to get going on the pitch and help the team move in the right direction,” he added, signalling his motivation to make an immediate impact for the struggling side.
Leicester, the club where Vardy made his name, are now in League One and currently finding life difficult under manager Russell Martin, adding a bittersweet backdrop to his new chapter.