Town have completed the signing of Norwich City midfielder Marcelino Nunez on a four-year deal.

On Wednesday, the clubs agreed a fee of £7.5 million up front plus a further £2.5 million in add-ons for the Chilean international.

The 25-year-old, who currently has a minor ankle problem, joined the Canaries from Universidad Catolica - who are understood to be due 15 per cent of Norwich’s profit on the sale - in the summer of 2022 and went on to make 86 starts and 33 sub appearances, scoring 12 goals, including the free-kick which won the East Anglian derby for Norwich at Carrow Road in 2023/24.

Nunez, who has been capped 31 times by his country, scoring three goals, had a year left on his contract and is understood to have rebuffed the offer of a new deal on two occasions.

“It goes without saying, this is a significant transfer for all parties involved,” Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper told his club's official website.

“We absolutely understand the feeling and sentiment from our supporters at this time, and this was of course an extremely difficult decision for us to take.

“As with every transfer, there are many factors that we must consider, including the wishes of the player, their contractual position, team performance and, of course, the offer itself.

“Ultimately, when considering all of those aspects, we firmly believe that this is in the best interests of our club.

“We are committed to making what we feel are the best possible decisions for our football club, assessing all factors in the round, in both the short, medium and long term.

“Of the possible scenarios and outcomes that this situation has presented, we believe this is the one that leaves the club in the best position.”

Town have been looking to add to their central midfield options this summer with skipper Sam Morsy, Massimo Luongo and loanee Kalvin Phillips having departed.

The last player to make the move from Carrow Road to Portman Road on a permanent basis was keeper Andy Marshall in the summer of 2001, while other players have represented both clubs since then on a full-time or loan basis over the course of their careers, including David Wright, Jordan Rhodes, David Healy, Alan Lee, Matthew Bates, Kevin Lisbie and Brandon Williams.

More recently, Liam Gibbs turned down a contract with Town to join the Canaries in 2021, the clubs agreeing training compensation.

Among those who represented both clubs on a permanent basis prior to that were Clive Woods, Trevor Putney, John Deehan, Louie Donowa, Clive Baker, Johnny Miller, Peter Morris and Keith Bertschin.

Off the field, former Norwich striker Joe Royle managed the Blues and Paul Lambert both sides, while current Canaries boss Liam Manning, his assistant Chris Hogg and first-team coach/analyst James Krause are all former Town academy players and staff.

Nunez is the first Chilean to play for the Blues and is the third signing of the week following the additions of right-back Darnell Furlong from West Brom and striker Iván Azón, who has joined on loan from Serie A Como, last night.

Recoleta-born Nunez takes the number of players at the club qualifying for the 25-man squad to 30, which means several players will have to move on or be left out and therefore unavailable for the first half of the season.

The Blues have also agreed a fee with FC Nordsjælland for 19-year-old Norwegian international forward Sindre Walle Egeli.

Photo: ITFC

groundhog added 10:36 - Aug 29 Took a long time to get down the A140. Did he have trouble crossing the border.
1

WalkRules added 10:37 - Aug 29 Just. The wink.
4

Runner added 10:37 - Aug 29 Like so many others on here this morning, great video. I have had a word, he will be on the bench tomorrow, coming on at 77 minutes.
0

GoingUp added 10:38 - Aug 29 Hope he gives his car a valet before driving up, don't want him bringing no fleas across
2

GoingUp added 10:38 - Aug 29 Hope he gives his car a valet before driving up, don't want him bringing no fleas across
0

Dutchman1 added 10:40 - Aug 29 The 2 gentlemen doing an ‘emergency’ Norwich podcast looked like they had suffered a bereavement. Welcome Marcelino.
3

dirtydingusmagee added 10:44 - Aug 29 On the bawl city lol Bog rolls in the post to wipe away the tears lol
2

MVBlue added 10:46 - Aug 29 Ah they did do a nice montage!!!!
0

WalkRules added 10:54 - Aug 29 If you think the PinkUn was good the other day the take a look at their forums now. They really like the wink. https://forum.pinkun.com/index.php?/topic/160835-sick/page/2/#comments
6

Billysherlockblue added 11:00 - Aug 29 The ankle is probably going around like the sore throat virus. Believe. Welcome to the town
1

wewerefamous added 11:01 - Aug 29 Absolutely love the vid… the scummers are going to be soooooo pee’d off! The wink at the end is class
3

Cakeman added 11:04 - Aug 29 Welcome Marcelino and welcome to the best Club and County in East Anglia
1

WhoisJimmyJuan added 11:06 - Aug 29 I don't normally get swept up in this kind of thing but this does feel like payback for Liam Gibbs, and some. That got to me a bit back then, so this is sweeeeet!
3

breezy_runner added 11:07 - Aug 29 Kissing the badge and the little wink at the end made me smile! COYB
2

WhoisJimmyJuan added 11:14 - Aug 29 Some of that bile on Pink un is beyond rivalry. The seed tsuckers are vicious and it's going to be nastier than 3ver this season. We have to beat them this time.
2

Dissboyitfc added 11:17 - Aug 29 Wow that’s gonna hurt them! They were happy to take Gibbs and mock us and they were happy with Rhodes declaring his hatred of itfc on the pitch. Now the tables are turned they don’t like it, they need to grow up LMAO
1

Lightningboy added 11:19 - Aug 29 I know many will read my comments as negative but I can't help feeling that sometimes you can have too many players to fit into 11 places..I know it's a squad game etc etc blah blah but I can name that team that came up from league 1 to the prem in my sleep..everyone knew their role and they were tight knit..just think McKenna is going to have one hell of a headache trying to settle on a "team" AND keep everyone happy with all these signings. We'll have to wait and see I guess.

0

Karlosfandangal added 11:24 - Aug 29 Watch Town climb that table and become champions all these signing what a team we have again New hero’s
0

Marcus added 11:24 - Aug 29 I suspect this was also part of why Azón agreed to the move. I think it was Burley who observed it's best to have players from a culture in pairs so they have cultural companionship.
3

jas0999 added 11:26 - Aug 29 Interesting it was mentioned ‘the players wishes’ means he prefers us to Norwich. Brilliant stuff!
3

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 11:39 - Aug 29 Lovely job!
0

Rimsy added 11:39 - Aug 29 Please someone, post that video on one of the Norwich forums. They'll be boiling over in rage. Welcome to the Town.
1

blueboy1981 added 11:49 - Aug 29 Time will tell now if this is / has been last minute panic buying - or a creditable plan by MA / KM for the future of ITFC. Let’s assess at Xmas first and foremost, and again in May. It has to be an important throw of the dice for both MA / KM.
-8

OldFart71 added 12:07 - Aug 29 It wasn't so long ago the Budgies nicked one of our supposed top youths. These things happen. Hopefully we have bought a player who helps us to get back to the Prem and stay there. Maybe when I was a pretty mad young man, a long time ago I would have done my nut if one of our best players had crossed the divide. Now I am not really bothered. Anyone with any remote desire to better themselves for them and their family does what's right at the time. I worked for the lawnmowers in Stowmarket but when i got the chance to move to I.C.I. (Now PPG) I was gone like a shot. Never ever regretted the move even though I left behind a lot of really decent people.

1

SickParrot added 12:14 - Aug 29 He is a very good player who should add creativity to our midfield but his injury record is a worry. Hopefully he can play in enough games to justify the fee.
0

Blogs 299 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls