Pérez made his City debut in a 0-0 home draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2019 and netted a hat-trick in the Foxes’ 9-0 rout of Southampton two months later, to kick-start his City career.
Goals away at Brighton & Hove Albion and against former club Newcastle were followed by a brace at home to West Ham United, making it a successful start to life in the Midlands for Perez. The Spaniard has since represented the Foxes in the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Europa Conference League, also featuring prominently as the Club lifted the Emirates FA Cup in 2021. He also netted against Napoli and twice versus Southampton in 2021/22.
In January 2023, Pérez joined Real Betis on loan until the end of the season.
Born in Tenerife, the forward’s exceptional technical ability and restless tenacity at a young age pathed a route to the Premier League.
Pérez began his emergence at Club Deportivo Tenerife, where he scored 11 goals in 35 appearances in the Tercera División, before he was rewarded with a first team outing in August 2013, at the age of 19.
A scintillating hat-trick during a 5-0 rout of Ponferradina catapulted Pérez into the spotlight as he received the Player of the Month award in March and April 2014, before also earning the Segunda División's 2013/14 Breakthrough Player and Best Attacking Midfielder of the Year prizes.
His excellent individual form was a factor behind Tenerife’s promotion to the second tier of Spanish football that season. The following campaign, now playing at a higher level, Pérez scored an impressive 16 times in just 34 games, alerting a host of clubs across Europe to his potential.
Accompanied by brother Samuel, who joined Blyth Spartans, Ayoze moved to England in 2014, joining Newcastle. Pérez registered his first Premier League goal in a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in October 2014.
Just six days later, he repeated the feat in a 1-0 victory over Rodgers’ Liverpool as the Magpies sealed a fourth consecutive top-flight win.
The following month, Ayoze made it three league goals in as many outings in a 2–0 away win against West Bromwich Albion. Pérez's maiden Newcastle season ended with him netting seven times in 36 appearances as they finished 15th in the Premier League.
Following an admirable debut campaign in England, Ayoze also starred for Spain’s Under-21s in UEFA 2015 European Championship qualification, as his stock continued to grow. Newcastle were relegated in 2016, but Pérez remained on Tyneside, recording 12 goals as the Magpies returned to the top flight at the first attempt.
The striker reached double figures in successive campaigns under Rafa Benítez and his 10 goals over the 2017/18 season were invaluable to preserve Newcastle’s Premier League status. Another 12 followed in 2018/19 – his best tally in Newcastle - before his move to King Power Stadium.