Leicester City Sign Goalkeeper Dai Cornell on One-Year Deal

Leicester City have moved to plug their goalkeeping gap with the signing of veteran stopper Dai Cornell on a one-year deal.

The 35-year-old Welshman arrives as a free agent after turning down a new contract at Preston North End in the summer, opting instead for a fresh challenge and a drop into League One with the Foxes.

His arrival follows a major setback for Leicester, who lost Jakub Stolarczyk to a season-ending knee injury in early September. With promotion back to the Championship the clear target, Russell Martin has wasted little time in reinforcing a key position.

“He understands the role he is going to fulfil here, but he also backs himself to show what a good goalkeeper he is,” the Leicester boss told BBC Radio Leicester. “But first and foremost, he is a brilliant character and really adds to the character, voice and experience in this squad.”

Cornell, who began his career at Swansea City, has built a reputation as a reliable, seasoned professional across the EFL and beyond. Leicester become the 11th club of a well-travelled journey that has taken in spells with St Mirren in Scotland, as well as Portsmouth, Oldham, Northampton and Peterborough, alongside his time at Ipswich Town and Preston.

The Welshman made clear he is ready to slot in wherever needed, saying he is keen to “help in any way” he can at the Foxes.

So far this season, former Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, a once-capped England international, has been Leicester’s mainstay in goal. Franco Ravizzoli, signed in the summer from Blackpool, has provided cover from the bench since Stolarczyk’s injury.

Cornell now joins that group, adding another layer of experience to a promotion-chasing squad that knows one bad injury can change a season – and one smart signing can steady it again.