Is this a sign Jamie Vardy is considering a move to Saudi Arabia?
by Nick Craven · Mail OnlineRebekah Vardy and her husband Jamie interrupted their mid-season holiday in Dubai to pay a visit to Saudi Pro League WAG hotspot Bahrain, MailOnline can reveal.
The stop-off, which saw them stay at the enclave’s Four Seasons Hotel, sparked new rumours that the Leicester City striker is considering a lucrative new move which would help pay for his wife’s legal bills.
The hotel is a 40-minute drive away from oil-rich Dammam - home to Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq FC.
But Gerrard and several of his players live across the border in more liberal Bahrain, where drinking is allowed.
His children are enrolled at the local British school, while he is occasionally seen drinking in the nearby rugby club.
Podcast All episodes
PODCAST: Have England been playing with fear as Southgate suggests?
LISTEN: Southgate only England manager to be criticised whilst winning
PODCAST: The REAL reason England through despite playing badly
PODCAST: 'Just ONE good performance' could change England's fortunes
PODCAST: Are the England team buying into Southgate's style of play?
The Vardys’ visit to the Middle East comes after Mrs Vardy lost the latest round of her marathon ‘Wagatha Christie’ legal case against Coleen Rooney.
On Tuesday, a High Court judge ruled that there should be no reduction in the 90 per cent share she should pay of Coleen Rooney’s £1.8m legal costs after Mrs Vardy lost her high-profile libel trial against her rival Wag.
Read More
EXCLUSIVE
How Steven and Alex Gerrard avoided strict Saudi Arabia for a 'dream life' of luxury in Bahrain
Now, mother-of-five Rebekah, 42, has posted several photos from Bahrain on her Instagram stories as the couple enjoy a holiday during the international break.
But sources have told MailOnline that the couple privately made a detour to the Saudi kingdom next door, fuelling speculation that Jamie, 37, may have had second thoughts about signing up for a lucrative deal with a Saudi club.
In June 2023, Vardy turned down an offer to play for Al-Khaleej FC, as well as interest from other clubs.
A year later, he signed a one-year contract extension with Leicester City, newly promoted to the Premier League, keeping him there to the end of this season, but after that he would be a free agent.
Last year, a move to Saudi wasn’t considered the right one for him and his family, but the couple’s jaunt to the Middle East – captioned in one of Becky’s photos ‘Kid free zone’ suggests that circumstances may have changed.
Many of the British and other players such as Jordan Henderson and Ivan Toney, who have played for Saudi clubs have chosen to make their homes in nearby Bahrain, where strict dress codes for women are less stringently enforced than in Saudi, and where alcohol can be legally served.
Read More
Jamie Vardy says at 37 'age is just a number' as he plans on bothering defences into his forties
Despite his age, Vardy has scored two goals already this season, bringing his Leicester total to 190 goals in a career that has seen him win the Premier League and FA Cup.
Vardy's net worth in 2022 was estimated to be £9 million. He owns a Bentley Continental car and a luxurious mansion in Lincolnshire. His year-long contract extension with Leicester is worth £5.3 million.
Last week’s reprise of the Wagatha hearing brought back memories of the sensational High Court libel trial.
Coleen Rooney’s lawyers accused Rebekah Vardy of 'deplorable conduct' as the case returned to court.
The wife of former England captain Wayne Rooney faced a challenge at London's High Court from Rebekah, who wanted to halve the £1.8million legal bill she faces.
Rebekah lost the main legal action in July 2022, having sued Coleen over claims about leaking stories.
Last week she unsuccessfully demanded a 50 per cent cut in the settlement, as it was alleged that Coleen was charging for a lawyer's stay at a five-star Nobu Hotel.
Coleen accused Rebekah in 2019 of sharing her private information from social media to the Press - an allegation which judge Mrs Justice Steyn later ruled was 'substantially true'.
A source close to Rebekah insisted the couple were merely ‘on holiday during the international break’.