Andrew Omobamidele Seals Premier League Move On Deadline Day

Andrew Omobamidele sealed a move back to the Premier League late on transfer deadline day, as he penned a five-year deal with Nottingham Forest.

Norwich City have reportedly received a fee of £20 million for defender, making it the third-highest amount paid for an Irish player after Nathan Collins’ moves in the last two summer windows.

Omobamidele leaves Norwich after coming up through the ranks at Carrow Road, having joined from his hometown club Leixlip United.

Andrew Omobamidele returns to Premier League

The 21-year-old has tasted life in the Premier League before, making five appearances as Norwich finished bottom in the 2021/22 season. His one and only goal in the top flight came in a 2-1 home defeat to Leeds United in October 2021.

Most of Omobamidele’s time in the Norwich first-team has been spent in the Championship, and he returned from a serious back injury last season to make 35 appearances in all competitions.

Back in April, he became the youngest ever player to captain the Canaries, when he led them out for a goalless draw against Rotherham United.

However, the arrival this summer of Shane Duffy, one of Omobamidele’s mentors in the Ireland squad, pushed the youngster down the pecking order, but that could turn out to be a blessing in disguise as he seals his move back to the top division.

Nottingham Forest style of play

Forest usually play with a three-man central defence, a system in which Omobamidele has excelled for Ireland, and competition for places will be provided by the likes of Joe Worrall, Scott McKenna and Willy Boly.

The City Ground outfit were characteristically busy on deadline day, as they also brought in Ivorian midfielder Ibrahim Sangore, Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi and Liverpool cult hero Divock Origi, among others.

Omobamidele will hope to use his new surroundings as a platform to get back into the Ireland fold, after he was left out of Stephen Kenny’s squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against France and the Netherlands.

 

 

Norwich City transfer news: Flynn Clarke joins Dagenham & Redbridge

Norwich City under-21s midfielder Flynn Clarke has joined Dagenham & Redbridge on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old joins the National League side until the summer of 2024, with two years left on his current deal.

City signed Clarke from Peterborough United in 2021 having impressed in League One, but has struggled for a first-team breakthrough at Carrow Road.

He joined League Two Walsall this time last year, but was recalled before the end of the summer transfer window due to a lack of playing opportunities.

Daggers manager Ben Strevens told official club channels of Clarke: “He’s a player we’ve known about for a while, and as soon as we knew it was a possibility we wanted to get him into the club.

“Flynn can cover a load of the attacking areas and we believe he will add goals and assists to the group. He’s come here to develop his game, and he’s fitted in straight away so we are delighted to have him on board with us.”

Clarke will wear the number 14 shirt for the Essex club