Position: Striker
Age: 21
Born: Swindon (Nov 24, 1983)
Date signed: January 10, 2005
Signed from: Crewe Alexandra, £3,000,000 (a further £500,000 if Ashton makes five full England appearances)
City debut: v Aston Villa A (Jan 15, 2005)
Contract: June 2008, with further one year option
Season 2004/05 Appearances (max 41): 16 Goals: 7
Career appearances: 16 Goals: 7
Former clubs: Crewe Alexandra
International honours: England Under-21

What an inspired signing he turned out to be. Full credit to the Norwich board for coming up with the £3m-plus required to prise him away from Crewe during the transfer window – and full credit to Worthington for persuading him that a move to Carrow Road was in his best interests. Ashton looked every inch a Premiership striker once he had settled down – and was a key figure in the Canaries' late revival, scoring seven goals in 16 appearances.

Verdict: There's nothing to suggest Ashton won't be staying put. He's on a long-term contract and is clearly happy at the club. But now City are in the Championship their prized asset is bound to attract the attention of top-flight clubs. Proven goalscorers will always be in demand, especially when they boast a touch like his. Let's keep our fingers crossed on that one.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Dean

Dean Ashton may now be the most expensive man in Norwich, but what do we know about the man behind the £3 million price tag? The striker is Norwich City Football Club’s record signing, but there is more to the young man than a weighty transfer fee — he is scared of spiders for one.

He was born on November 24, 1983, making him a Sagittarius.

Before his move to Norwich, he lived at home with his parents in Holmes Chapel, a village about nine miles outside Crewe.

He was born in Swindon, but moved to Cheshire with his family as a young boy.

Despite being one of the most sought-after strikers outside the Premiership, he does not employ a football agent. His uncle helped negotiate his transfer to Norwich.

He is 6ft 2in and weighs just more than 12st.

The first football shirt he owned was a blue and black Manchester United away shirt.

His favourite TV programme is the Champions League football matches.

The most goals he has ever scored in a game is six, when he was at school.

He has a phobia of spiders.

He went straight from school into playing professional football — making his debut at just 16. He joined Crewe’s academy at the age of 12.

He is very keen on cars. He recently had to swap his Porsche for a 4 x 4 BMW because it was better for his hamstrings.

He models his game on Newcastle striker Alan Shearer.

His favourite former player is Gary Lineker.

He has had to fight his way back from one serious injury. In 2001 he suffered a knee injury during a pre-season tour to Ireland — he was sidelined for several months.

At Crewe his shirt number was 10 — he has been assigned the number 36 jersey at City.