Norwich have signed winger Nathan Redmond to a four year deal from Birmingham City.
The 19 year old, who played 42 times for the Blues last season, was transferred for a fee believed to be slightly in excess of £2 million, with a series of add ons that could make the agreement worth up to £3.2 million.
Redmond will be no stranger to Canaries boss, Chris Hughton, who gave the current England U21 international his first start when the pair were together at Birmingham in 2010.
"[Hughton] was very influential on my career at Birmingham,” Redmond said. “He gave me the chance to play and the chance to express myself every time that I stepped on to the field and I feel like on the bigger stage he’ll do exactly the same thing. I’d probably say I’ve played some of my best football under him so far.”
Hughton reciprocated the pleasantries. "[Redmond] is a player that was of interest to us for some time and the situation has now come about that we can get him on our terms. He’s someone we can bring into the forward areas and primarily has played on either wing in his career so far, but can also play off the front.”
Redmond is Norwich’s third signing of the summer, following a £8.6 million move for striker Ricky von Wolfswinkle from Sporting Lisbon and £1.3 million move for left-back Javier Garrido.
Breaking into the Canaries Starting XI could prove difficult for Redmond, as he will battle Anthony Pilkington for his spot on the left and Robert Snodgrass on the right.
Complicating matters even further is that if, as Hughton says, Redmond is to line up in the role of supporting striker, he will have to take that position from creative playmaker Wes Hoolahan.
If deploying a 4-5-1, Hughton could, however, move Pilkington into more of a central role and insert Redmond on the left side.
With his dribbling ability, willingness to take on defenders and vision to find the right pass, Redmond could prove a key component to von Wolfswinkle’s adjustment to life in the Premier League.
