James Maddison has left Norwich City and joined Premier League Leicester City. It wasn’t a surprise to anyone and was somewhat inevitable. So much so that I wrote my article about him leaving a couple of days ago and simply pressed “publish” when the transfer was announced.
The fee is a record for a Championship player that has yet to play in the Premier League at a rumoured £24m, when all the extra clauses are met. It is also a club record sale for the Canaries.
As is usual with any high profile transfer, the fans and the great and the good of the Canary Nation have plenty to say on the subject, so here’s just a flavour of what is being said on Twitter.
Can’t go without saying a massive massive thank you to everyone involved with Norwich City. From Delia & Michael, to Stuart and the Boss. Can’t forget my brilliant teammates and most importantly you amazing fans! I can’t thank you enough! You installed confidence in me and (1/3)
— James Maddison (@Madders10) June 20, 2018
gave me the freedom to go and be the player I wanted to be, so I will be forever grateful for that. You didn’t get on my back if I made a mistake and you supported me whether I was scoring worldies or getting tackled near my own goal.???? I hope Norwich gets back to where it (2/3)
— James Maddison (@Madders10) June 20, 2018
belongs and that is most definitely the Premier League! I am now a canary for life and it’ll be the first result I check. Good luck to everyone involved with Norwich City???????? (3/3) #JM23 pic.twitter.com/tvWWzsJsl0
— James Maddison (@Madders10) June 20, 2018
James Maddison has joined Leicester City for a club record fee. #ncfc
Full story ???? https://t.co/HAsq3fGHwB pic.twitter.com/vwVqxF0fTH
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) June 20, 2018
Thanks for the memories, @Madders10! #ncfc
We wish you all the very best for the future! ???????? pic.twitter.com/sAaqWXHEPB
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) June 20, 2018
Flecky and Eadie leaving were always the two that really got me…Madders up there with both now.
I know 'that's football', but it's still ok to be sad. Genuinely one of the best I've ever seen in the yellow shirt. Will always be a huge fan of @Madders10.
— Rob Butler (@BobRutler) June 20, 2018
Wes leaving was far more traumatic. I've been expecting Maddison to go since January more or less. All about the future now and getting things right in the window. #ncfc
— Cory (@iwritethings23) June 20, 2018
And for my money, James Maddison was good as any player I've seen in a Norwich City shirt. It's really sad to see him go so soon – and yet it was a privilege to see him here at all. #ncfc
????????https://t.co/7uFydQnLoO
— Michael Bailey (@michaeljbailey) June 20, 2018
Good luck lad … don't forget us when you pull on that England 1st XI shirt
— Gary Gowers (@Gary_Gowers) June 20, 2018
From my view, deal up to £24m is good money, wise move for Madderz as he should get plenty of game time & it's massive for #NCFC that they've managed to get the deal done in June despite the injury issue. Wish the lad well after a superb season.
— David Freezer (@davefreezer) June 20, 2018
Best of luck to Madders. He deserves his chance. Trying to stay positive but feel we have now gone from a team with some quality vying for playoffs to a team with little quality vying to stay in the Championship. Hope not! @johnnyP_NCFC @Bicestercanary
— Barry Mullen (@Fishingbaz) June 20, 2018
30 years of departures, Dale Gordon, Ruel Fox, Chris Sutton, Craig Bellamy, Darren Eadie, Ashley Ward, Robert Fleck and lots of minor favourites Keith O'Neil, David Phillips, Steen Nedergaard, et al. Madison had to go to PL.
— Mike Reynolds (@MikeReynolds8) June 20, 2018
Great move for him, both #NCFC and @Coventry_City are gonna get serious money out of it, facts are he’s too good to be playing for a Mid table Championship team and that’s sadly where #Ncfc are at the minute, let’s hope some of the money is invested back into the team https://t.co/euUprKoGEA
— Darren Huckerby (@hucks6dh6) June 18, 2018
The @Madders10 deal is impressive on all fronts. The conduct of @LCFC, @NorwichCityFC, the player himself and the #NCFC fans. Always pleasing to see a transfer done right, with no hard feelings, only wishes of luck and success. Heart-warming. ????????
— Dan O'Hagan (@danohagan) June 18, 2018
Leicester manager Claude Puel: "James Maddison is a wonderful player, 1 of the most exciting young talents in English football.
"He made a big contribution to Norwich last season and I’m delighted he's decided to make the step up to the Premier League with Leicester." #ncfc
— Michael Bailey (@michaeljbailey) June 20, 2018
So, James Maddison had finally joined Leicester. It's been on the cards for so long it's felt like it's gone on forever. Ultimately he's too good for the championship & too good for Norwich. Feel privileged to have seen him play in a city shirt, albeit briefly. #ncfc
— tom pauley (@tompauley8) June 20, 2018
Sad to see @Madders10 go and all the best to him, but just remember without farke playing and trusting in him we wouldn't be at this point #ncfc
— paul pointen (@milky1967) June 20, 2018
All the best, @Madders10. Now, I don’t want to spoil your big day, but I’m going to have to unfollow you now. Sorry, buddy ????????
— Matt Lewendon (@matty_leww) June 20, 2018
Great move for the mad dog, what a player and somehow an even better friend. I’ll miss you brother @Madders10 – so happy for ya ❤️❤️ x x x
— Carlton Morris (@CarltonJM) June 20, 2018
Good luck @Madders10 with your move to @LCFC it’s been a pleasure watching you grow into the superb player you are, shame we only got to see you for a season, looking forward to seeing you @BBCMOTD next season ???????? #Ncfc #Pusb
— Darren Huckerby (@hucks6dh6) June 20, 2018
Sadly, Madders has outgrown Norwich City and he’s definitely too good for the Sky Bet Championship. The move to Leicester is a decent one for him, I feel as he is likely to get plenty of game time to develop into an even better player than he already is.
At just 21 years old, he’s still got a lot to learn in the game and playing with young English players like Demarai Gray, Ben Chilwell and Harry Maguire is only going to help him. Leicester are building a nice little squad there and I don’t think it will be too long before he outgrows the Foxes too.
I don’t bear him any malice, only good times and success, he was brilliant for Norwich and Daniel Farke’s role in that development shouldn’t be overlooked either. However, like Matt Lewendon, “no hard feeling Madders, but I’m going to have to unfollow you now!”
OTBC