Iconic Shirt Numbers: The No.7s Who Dazzled In Leicester
After only making his senior debut for Arsenal against City in February 1938, Welsh outside right Mal Griffiths joined the Foxes for £750 during the following summer.
It was a switch which surprised some, especially considering Griffiths' five goals in nine appearances to help the Gunners to the title, but competition for places was rife in the capital.
Griffiths would enjoy an 18-year association with Leicester, culminating in him making a remarkable 420 appearances for the Club, despite losing seven seasons due to the Second World War.
He was in fact the first of City's players to be automatically conscripted - into the Welsh Regiment - but manager Jonny Duncan swiftly ensured his return once hostilities ceased.
The skilful Welshman would later become an established international for his country, making 11 outings, while also scoring the Club's first-ever goal at Wembley in the 1949 FA Cup Final.
Such was his impact at Filbert Street, the Club staged a testimonial match following the 1953/54 promotion-winning campaign in an effort to reward him for his history-making exploits for Leicester.
Griffiths' departure would eventually lead to another player impressing in the Club's No.7 shirt - Howard Riley, who made his City debut just four days after his 17th birthday in August 1955.
Like his predecessor, Riley's career was also somewhat curtailed by military service for the National Service, but he was able to continue playing nonetheless for the British Army.
As one of the legendary 'Ice Kings' side which so nearly won a league and cup double in the 1960s, Riley made 233 appearances for City between 1955 and 1965, scoring 47 goals for the Club.
After two failed attempts to win the FA Cup in 1961 and 1963, Riley was also part of the squad which lifted Leicester's first piece of major silverware, the League Cup in 1964, scoring the winner in the final.
By the time he'd voluntarily become part-time at Filbert Street, meanwhile, the Leicestershire-born winger had begun to train as a teacher, starting a long career in the education sector.
At the beginning of the 1970s, on the other hand, another significant figure in the Club's history signed at Filbert Street. That man was Keith Weller, who joined from Chelsea for £100,000 in 1971.
Defined by his charisma at Filbert Street - not to mention his fearsome ability with the ball at his feet - Weller quickly established himself as a vital pillar in Jimmy Bloomfield's exciting Foxes side.
Over nine years, Weller appeared 296 times, scoring 43 goals - including several spectacular and memorable efforts such as a mazy run and finish at Luton Town, or thunderbolt volley against Newcastle United.
Indeed, a good example of his flair, both on-field and in regards to his personality, came during one of his final appearances for Leicester as he donned white tights against Norwich City.
While City were unable to secure silverware during a vintage time to be a Foxes supporter, it is no surprise that Weller's nine years at the Club coincided with Leicester being branded as 'entertainers'.
In the mid-1990s, Martin O'Neill was looking for a very different type of midfielder as City strived win promotion to the Premier League. In the winter of 1996, Neil Lennon joined from Crewe Alexandra.
Renowned, of course, for his undeniable commitment and work-rate, Lennon also earned plaudits, especially among the Blue Army, for his midfield abilities over his four years as a Fox.
City were indeed promoted at the end of the 1995/96 season and, rather than simply battling to remain in the top-flight, O'Neill's Foxes thrived in their new surroundings - especially Lennon.
In partnership with Muzzy Izzet - later to be joined in a midfield triangle by Robbie Savage - Lennon was a pivotal component in a system which regularly shocked English football's biggest clubs.
Lennon was part of a side which competed in three League Cup Finals in just four years, winning twice in 1997 and 2000, while also representing the Club in European competition on two occasions.
After starring on 205 occasions, securing four consecutive top-10 finishes, he followed O'Neill to Celtic, achieving great success as a player, and is now in his second spell as the Bhoys manager.
Another player to shine, albeit for different reasons, in the Club's No.7 shirt was winger Paul Gallagher, who added a sprinkle of stardust to the Foxes' line-up between 2009 and 2015.
Signed by Nigel Pearson in 2009, following the Club's promotion from League 1, Gallagher swiftly proved his worth to his new manager as City narrowly missed out in the Championship Play-Offs.
Pearson briefly departed the Club in the summer of 2010, to be replaced by Paulo Sousa and then Sven-Göran Eriksson, but Gallagher's importance to Leicester's objectives remained.
A scorer of outstanding long-range goals, as well as a unique penalty-kick routine which saw him turn his back on the goalkeeper, the Scot was again instrumental for Pearson's second spell in charge.
Fond memories of Gallagher include a breath-taking hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Scunthorpe United, or a brilliant free-kick against Nottingham Forest. Indeed, Eriksson even likened his abilities to David Beckham.
While still a Fox when City were promoted back to the Premier League in 2014, much of his later years included loan moves away, but it didn't stop him amassing 28 goals in 137 appearances for the Club.
Finally, in the winter of 2016, as Leicester closed in on a historic maiden Premier League title, manager Claudio Ranieri completed the transfer of Demarai Gray from Birmingham City.
A St. Andrew's regular since his debut as a 17-year-old, Gray arrived at King Power Stadium regarded as one of the best players outside the top-flight having already represented England at youth level.
Following his debut in a 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur in the Emirates FA Cup, the Birmingham-born winger contributed with 14 appearances in 2015/16 - 12 of which earned him a Premier League medal.
Since then, Gray has represented the Foxes in the UEFA Champions League, helping his side reach the quarter-finals in 2016/17, while also starring on several notable occasions in the top-flight.
Perhaps his most famous strike in the Club's colours came in November 2018 when - a week following the tragic passing of Chairman Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha - Gray scored the winner at Cardiff City.
His quality was on show more recently, too, before the suspension of football due to COVID-19, as he netted an excellent winner for Brendan Rodgers' men at West Ham United in December 2019.