Here’s some great news that we first reported was incoming, a couple of weeks ago concerning Jamal Lewis. The club have confirmed this morning that Jamal has signed a new extended deal that will keep him at Carrow Road until 2023.
The talks over this new deal have obviously been going on for a long time and when you have an excellent young player like Lewis, it makes good business sense to tie them down to the club for as long as possible.
It seems incredible to think that Jamal hasn’t even been in the first team for a year yet, with his debut coming last December away at Birmingham City, but boy has he made the most of his chance.
So much so that James Husband, who many thought was bought as first choice has had to go out on loan to Fleetwood to get game time. Lewis’ high-performance level had left him in the shade in any case.
To my mind, there is no coincidence between the emergence of both Lewis and Max Aarons, not to mention Todd Cantwell, and the Canaries’ recent good form.
Football is a funny old game and many might argue that contracts these days aren’t worth the paper they’re written on BUT what it does do is to “insure” the club should another, bigger club come in with an offer.
As Jamal has just signed what is effectively a five-year contract, any offer would need to be a big one.
Speaking to canaries.co.uk, Lewis said: “I’m thrilled. I’m very happy to get it signed and sealed and now it’s important to just keep playing football and keep improving.
“They [Farke and Stuart Webber] have shown lots of faith in me since last year and pre-season, putting me in with the lads and it’s just been a good, growing relationship since then.
“Every game I play, I just try and repay them and keep contributing to the team.
“I missed the first part of last season with injury but once it got to the New Year I was in the team and the games were coming so I had to get used to it.
“It was a new experience for me with the number of games and high level of competition but this season, I think I’m adapting quite well and I’m really enjoying my football at the moment.”
Head Coach Daniel Farke said: “Jamal has grown-up so much that we don’t speak about him so much as a young player anymore.
“His performances are so grown-up, and he’s now really experienced. He’s always there with a high consistency and he’s a real fixed point in our plan.
“He’s still only 20-years-old and it’s an unbelievably good sign for our Club that we are able to have such a young talent that is willing to stay here with us.”
Well done, Mr Webber. Better have a word with young Aarons and Cantwell’s agents next.
OTBC