Norwich City transfer news: Jonathan Tomkinson joins Bradford City
Norwich City centre-back Jonathan Tomkinson has completed a season-long loan move to League Two Bradford City.
The Canaries were made to wait for confirmation of the deal from the EFL after submitting paperwork late on deadline day, but the relevant authorities have now approved the move.
The 21-year-old has made three senior appearances for Norwich, and spent the second half of last season on loan with Stevenage in the fourth tier.
He told official Bradford club channels of the transfer: “I am really excited to be here. This is a big opportunity for myself. I am looking forward to playing some games and hopefully chasing promotion.
“It has been a hectic few days but when I got the call saying Bradford City were interested it was an offer I could not refuse. This is a club with big ambitions, and I want to play in important games.
“I have always considered myself a ball-playing centre-back. I am comfortable on the ball and not afraid to step in and pass through the lines.
“I am looking forward to getting started. I will give my all for the club. I am really excited to be here and I think we will go big places.”
Bantams manager Mark Hughes added: “We are pleased to have brought Jonathan in, and wish him a warm welcome to the club.
“Jon is a strong centre-half with different sides to his game who, after we tried to get a deal for him done on deadline day, we are now delighted to finally have with us.
“As well as having the physical attributes to compete at this level, his experience in League Two with promoted Stevenage last year – and over in the USA – make him a cultured footballer with a versatile skillset.
“We are looking forward to getting him started in claret and amber, and I am sure he is looking forward to playing in front of you all.”
Norwich City: Max Aarons on fresh challenge with Bournemouth
The early weeks of Max Aarons’ Bournemouth experience have reinforced his view that a fresh challenge away from Norwich City was needed.
Aarons and City’s sporting director Stuart Webber both publicly spoke about the need for the right-back to continue his development away from Carrow Road after five years service having made over 200 appearances with the club.
His move away from Norwich ended up becoming a saga as he walked away from advanced negotiations with Leeds United to join Bournemouth to embrace the Premier League challenge with Andoni Iraola.
Aarons has started each of the Cherries’ opening four top-flight matches since making the move from Norwich, which could end up banking City £12m if add-ons are achieved during his stay on the south coast.
Bournemouth are still searching for their first victory of the campaign – but Aarons’ feeling that he required a fresh start away from Norfolk has been reinforced since walking through the door at his new club last month.
“It’s my first challenge away from Norwich, but one that I needed and one that I feel like I can add a lot to in terms of the club and myself,” Aarons told the Bournemouth Daily Echo.
“I’m really, really excited still and obviously only been here two or three weeks now. I feel really at home.”
Aarons has been thrust into frontline action for his new employers in their Premier League conquest despite not playing a single minute of pre-season for Norwich whilst a move was in the offing.
Iraoia has thrown the 23-year-old in at the deep end including in difficult tests against Tottenham and Liverpool – but Aarons is pleased to be testing himself against the very best in world football once again.
“You either get eased into it or you’re straight in,” mused the right-back. “I think I’d have preferred it to be like this, to be straight into it. I feel really good and feel after each game as well, better and better.
“I think you can see some of the things that we’re trying to do on the pitch as well and I think in general we’ve been really good.
“I think (against Spurs) we came up against a quality side. They were quite ruthless when they got their chances.”
