Norwich City sign experienced Ligue 1 star who was ‘desperate’ to join
Norwich City have continued their preparations for their return to Premier League football with the signing of Pierre Lees-Melou.
It has been a busy start to the summer for Norwich and they now have another new player to add to the ranks. Lees-Melou has joined from Nice, where he was vice captain, for an undisclosed fee. The Canaries have tied him down to a contract until 2024, subject to international clearance.
Aged 28, Lees-Melou played 33 times in all competitions for Nice last season as they finished mid-table in Ligue 1. He scored five goals along the way and featured in the Europa League.
Now, he will get his first taste of Premier League football, teaming up with the newly promoted Norwich.
“I’m very excited to join Norwich City and discover my new future with the club and its fans,” he told their club website. “I can’t wait to play football in Norwich colours.
“I spoke with Daniel [Farke] and Stuart [Webber]. We had a very long conversation about football and the vision for the team.
“I’ve heard a lot about how Norwich plays football in the right manner and style and also the club’s spirit and mentality. I love that and that got me very excited.
“I also spoke with Morgan Schneiderlin and Yoann Barbet about football in England. They spoke very highly of Norwich and the club’s position and standing.
“I appreciate the opportunity in this club and wanted to get the move sorted and start quickly. I’m excited to discover a new country, language and play in the biggest league in the world.”
Farke explains Lees-Melou qualities
Head coach Farke is hoping to see his side benefit from the addition of Lees-Melou, who has also played for Dijon in the past.
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“We’re delighted to have been able to sign a player like Pierre,” Farke added. “There are a lot of things to like about him and his football qualities.
“He’s a really good technical player and is very good with the ball. He also has the physical ability every game to cover lots of ground and can play many positions and roles.
“His CV, age and experience are very good. He has played for a big club in Nice, in pressure situations with some talented players. He has played a lot of football in recent years, so is in a good rhythm and full of confidence.
“We think Pierre will help us in the Premier League. He has a great character and personality. It is not a coincidence and is always a good sign when a player is allowed to wear the captain’s armband at such a big club like Nice.
“In our communication we all got the feeling that he is desperate to come to Norwich. He’s an intelligent and humble guy and is greedy to work and improve on this level.”
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