Jamal Lewis has become Norwich City’s first major departure of the window by completing his move to Newcastle United.
The Northern Irish international has signed a five-year deal at St James Park and will link with up with Steve Bruce’s side ahead of the Premier League kick-off on Saturday.
City have sold Lewis for an initial fee understood to be in the region of £15million, with add-ons included in the deal driving that price up further.
Lewis graduated from the Canaries academy after signing from Luton Town in 2014 and was given his first taste of senior football by Daniel Farke in December 2017.
He went onto make 100 league appearances for the club and has also become a fully-fledged Northern Irish international. Lewis withdrew from international duty on Monday to fly to Newcastle to complete the formalities of his move.
Explaining why he decided to swap Carrow Road for St James’ Park, Lewis told the club’s official channels: “It was a little bit unexpected but it was something that I was obviously looking forward to when I heard that there was serious interest, so I’m delighted to be here now.
“Newcastle’s such a great club with such history and I knew it was an opportunity I would love to take with both hands.”
Lewis becomes Newcastle’s fifth signing of the window and Bruce believes the 22-year-old can be a fans’ favourite on Tyneside.
“Jamal is a very exciting prospect,” he said. “I watched him flourish in the Championship two years ago and he made a real fist of it in the Premier League last season.
“He is only 22 years old and has a wonderful future ahead of him so I hope he is a Newcastle United full-back for years to come.
“It’s been a great week for us with incoming players. We have had to be patient but these players improve us, which is key.”
City are well stocked to cope with Lewis’ departure given the arrivals of Xavi Quintilla and Sam McCallum this summer whilst Sam Byram kept Lewis out for long spells in the Premier League campaign before a hamstring injury. It is anticipated the former West Ham man will be back in the fold after the international break in October whilst signing a left-footed defender in Ben Gibson will cushion the blow of losing Lewis for many City fans.
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