Norwich City have handed Jed Steer the 17th birthday present he wanted most - a professional contract with the club.The Canaries have moved to secure the young goalkeeper's future at Carrow Road by handing him a two and a half year deal.

Norwich City have handed Jed Steer the 17th birthday present he wanted most - a professional contract with the club.

The Canaries have moved to secure the young goalkeeper's future at Carrow Road by handing him a two and a half year deal.

The talented youngster, who has represented England at youth level and is rated a top prospect by both club and country, was overjoyed to have completed the transition from Academy player to professional at the earliest possible opportunity.

“This is great, it's all I've ever wanted to do,” he told the club's official website.

"Ever since I joined the Academy, every year you are working towards the dream of a professional contract. So getting this on my 17th birthday is just fantastic.”

The young stopper, currently on the sidelines with a broken thumb, becomes the fourth professional goalkeeper at Carrow Road along with on-loan Fraser Forster, Michael Theoklitos and fellow home grown youngster Declan Rudd. He is now looking to regain fitness and enjoy a successful 2009-10 campaign

“I'm now hoping for a good season in the youth team and then try and break into the reserves and play a few games there,” he said.

“And the longer-term aim is to go on and play first team football for Norwich City.”

Steer has already featured twice for the first team in pre-season friendlies against Raith Rovers and Airdrie United during the summer.

Manager Paul Lambert is delighted to see young Steer join the professional ranks.

"Unfortunately I've not been able to see Jed play yet due to his injury but everybody tells me he's a lad with massive potential and I'm looking forward to seeing him in action,” he said. “Hopefully he will now go on to fulfil that potential with Norwich City and I'm obviously pleased to have got his contract sorted.”