breaking news: Eleven young Leicester City players who have been released at the ends of their contracts.

Khanya Leshabela is the only one of the 11 to make a first-team appearance for the club, with the South African leaving alongside Josh Eppiah and Terell Pennant

Khanya Leshabela is among 11 young Leicester City players who have been released at the ends of their contracts.

The South African midfielder is the only one of the 10 to make a senior appearance for the club. He featured as a substitute in a 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United in 2021.

He had been on loan in the past couple of seasons but did not find his feet at either Shrewsbury in League One last season or at Crewe in the campaign just gone. The 23-year-old will now look for a new club.

Also being released, confirmed as the Premier League published all 20 clubs’ retained lists on Friday, is Thai midfielder Thanawat Suengchitthawon. He was twice an unused substitute under Brendan Rodgers and played in pre-season friendlies, but he never made a competitive first-team appearance for City.

Joining from Nancy in 2020, he was a regular with the club’s development squad at the same time he was making his name as a Thailand international. However, he has not played at all this season as he has been in recovery from an ACL tear.

Josh Eppiah also leaves, the Belgian having spent the past 18 months on loan at Northampton. He too has had injury problems that have hampered his development.

Rounding off the list of professionals being released are center-backs Ronny Nelson and Bayli Spencer-Adams, who were both brought in two years ago to strengthen the club’s development squad ranks, as well as goalkeeper Kelechi Chibueze, and winger Terell Pennant. Nephew of former Liverpool man Jermaine, he was tipped for the top as a young teen, but now leaves City aged 20. His brother Kian remains at the club.

Four scholars have also left the club. They are Dillon Addai, Freddie Cook, Abdullah Javaid, and Tyler Weeks. The 11 youngsters join seven senior players who are departing, with the club announcing the exits of Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu, Papy Mendy, Daniel Amartey, Tete, Ayoze Perez, and Ryan Bertrand earlier this month. City remains in talks with Jonny Evans over an extension to his stay at the club.