Leicester make 1st move in January transfer market

Leicester players celebrate after Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez, obscured, scored during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Chelsea. (Rui Vieira/AP)

LEICESTER, England — Leicester has become the first title challenger in the Premier League to make a move in the transfer market, signing winger Demarai Gray from second-tier English club Birmingham.

The 19-year-old Gray joined for a reported fee of 3.7 million pounds ($5.4 million) on Monday, after Leicester met the release clause in his contract.

Leicester, who came close to signing the Englishman in the off-season, is second in the league — two points behind Arsenal — after a surprisingly strong start to the season.

Grey will provide competition for wingers Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton, who have been among Leicester’s best players this season.

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