Alex McCarthy reportedly had an offer from Chelsea on the table after leaving Southampton behind.
Indeed, this development came as a major surprise, considering McCarthy's lack of first team action on the South Coast as of late, but it's a testament to the fact that the 36-year-old was largely reliable for the Saints when thrown into action.
With a wealth of Premier League experience under his belt, as well, with 152 top-flight appearances next to his name, there was some method behind Chelsea's bizarre transfer attempt.
In the end, though, he turned down the advances of the Stamford Bridge giants to move down a division to Leicester City, as he tries to breathe life into his stagnant playing days under a familiar managerial chum in Russell Martin.
This chance to link back up with a manager, with whom he shares fond memories with, would have been one big selling point behind the one-time England international retreating to the third tier.
McCarthy has succeeded under Martin before
Despite being at Southampton for such a large patch of his career, the ex-Reading stopper only has 14 career appearances with Martin on his career CV.
To add context, he featured a colossal 90 times under Ralph Hasenhuttl, in contrast, but despite such limited time together, this string of matches was very memorable.
Amazingly, three of the 14 games in question came in the Championship playoffs during the unforgettable 2023/24 campaign, with the 36-year-old having to step into the first team to replace Gavin Bazunu, who was usually Martin's first choice keeper.
Two clean sheets would be collected as the South Coast side won promotion, with McCarthy's coolness under pressure to step into the first team and deliver making him an ideal free transfer capture for a Leicester team who will be expected to take League One by storm.
This patch of games was also McCarthy back to his best, after becoming a reserve figure at St. Mary's, with a hope on the veteran stopper's end that a reunion with the Scotsman can bring this revitalised edge back to his game.
It's not just the opportunity to link back up with the 40-year-old that has led McCarthy down the path to join the Foxes, however...
There are other reasons as well
In a tell-all interview after joining, the Guildford-born stopper has opened up on a wide array of reasons behind his thought process of rejecting Chelsea for a chance at glory in the third tier.
Noting that the Midlands outfit is a club with "strong history" - with a lone Premier League title in their trophy cabinet - alongside saying that it felt like the "right challenge" after accumulating severe dust on the Saints' substitute bench, it sounds as if the ageing keeper didn't want to just take the easy option heading to the Blues.
Rather, he's hungry to still succeed, and the challenge to be a part of the Leicester team that will strive to bounce back from back-to-back relegations was an enticing, if slightly daunting, one.
Last featuring in League One back in 2010 with Brentford, McCarthy would have had to swallow some pride dropping down to the third tier, as he has only known the Premier League in recent years.
But, it sounds as if it's the right move overall for the 36-year-old to feel energised, again, with Leicester possibly brushing shoulders with Southampton down the line, if the Foxes win an instant promotion, and his ex-employers remain put in the EFL's elite league.
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