Belgian defender Ritchie De Laet signed for Leicester City after leaving Manchester United. The fullback put pen to paper on a three-year deal when he signed for the Foxes on May 14, 2012. He signed for Leicester City on the same day as Manchester United teammate Matty James.

Ritchie De Laet scored his first Leicester City goal during the 6-1  win over Huddersfield Town on January 1, 2013. Four days later, he scored his second goal for the Foxes against Burton Albion in the first round of the FA Cup. In his first season at Leicester City, Ritchie De Laet played 46 times scoring two goals in the process and helping the Foxes into the Championship playoffs.

In his second season at Leicester City, De Laet played his part as the club sealed promotion to the Premier League under the tutelage of Nigel Pearson. He went on to score two times in 35 games as Leicester City made a superb recovery to preserve their Premier League status at the first time of asking.

Ritchie De Laet started the first seven Premier League games in his fourth season (2015/16) at Leicester City, netting his final goal for the team in the 3-2 win over Aston Villa on September 13, 2015. He would later lose his right-back spot to Danny Simpson in the Leicester City starting XI. Lack of first-team opportunities prompted him to join Middlesbrough on loan for the rest of the season on the final day of the 2016 winter transfer window. He was able to help Boro to win promotion to the English top flight on the final day of the season to add to his Premier League medal for his 12 appearances in the colour of Leicester City during the first half of the season. The Foxes stunned the world of football to win the Premier League title.