Rebekah Vardy has opened up about the emotional toll of leaving the UK behind after she and husband Jamie Vardy embarked on a brand-new chapter in Italy.
The couple’s major life change will be laid bare in the upcoming ITV series The Vardys, which promises unprecedented access into the football and showbiz family’s move abroad following Mr Vardy’s departure from Leicester City FC after 13 years.
The series begins with Mr Vardy’s emotional farewell match for Leicester before shifting focus to the chaos unfolding off the pitch.
After what she describes as “a difficult and dramatic five years in the UK,” Ms Vardy is determined to move forward and leave the “Wagatha” saga behind as the family settles into a new life in Italy, where her husband has joined Serie A side US Cremonese.
But despite embracing the adventure, Ms Vardy admitted the reality of uprooting their family was far from easy.
“I’m not going to lie, it was tough. But I think what helped was us approaching it as a family challenge rather than just Jamie’s career move," she said ahead of the series premiere.
The pair are once again letting the camera's into their home
|INSTAGRAM/ITV
“We knew there would be difficult days, culture shocks and moments of stress, but we also saw it as an opportunity to grow together, experience something new and create memories we'd never have otherwise.”
The mother-of-five revealed the biggest struggle was leaving behind the life they had built in Leicester over more than a decade.
“Without question, the biggest challenge was trying to balance the excitement of a completely new adventure with the emotional reality of leaving behind a life we’d built over more than a decade.
“Leicester was home for us in every sense - our friends, routines, schools, memories, so uprooting wasn’t just about packing boxes and moving country, it was about starting again emotionally.
Mr Vardy has transferred to a team in Italy
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“Moving is one of those major changes in life, but moving abroad? Honestly, nobody had prepared me for that.”
However, despite finding the move challenging, she explained the experience reinforced what “home” truly meant to her.
“I do think that home is where you make it, though. For me, it’s not bricks and mortar, it’s simply where my favourite people are.”
She also reflected emotionally on saying goodbye to Leicester and its loyal supporters, admitting the city will “always be home.”
The footballer said goodbye to his home and team of Leicester
|“It’s been emotional. Leicester had become my second home, my extended family, but it will always be home for us.
“The most difficult personal aspect of saying goodbye was not simply leaving the football side behind, but separating from the people, memories, and community that shaped me.
“It felt like the closing of a lifelong chapter, and it wasn’t easy, but I am forever grateful that the fans still travel to Italy to support me and my family on match days.
"That is what I mean when I say Leicester will always be home. I’ll always follow them.”
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