The midfielder was snapped-up by City boss Nigel Pearson in the summer of 2013 after making a name for himself with Brighton and Hove Albion and then Southampton.
The Hastings-born player broke on to the professional scene with the Seagulls and made over 130 appearances for them, chipping in with 21 goals, and being named club captain along the way. But a falling-out led to Albion transfer-listing the player and Colchester United forked out £250,000 for his services.
He spent just a year with the U’s but amassed over 50 appearances and impressed Southampton, who signed him on a three-year deal in the summer of 2009. Hammond was the part of the Saints squad that clinched back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League but on their return to the top-flight the Saints allowed him to move back to Brighton on a season-long loan deal.
The following year he was a capture for City on a two-year deal but was used mainly as a substitute to close out games in his first year at the King Power Stadium.