Norwich City have completed the big-money sale of academy product Jacob Murphy to Premier League new boys Newcastle United – bringing an end to over a decade with the Canaries for the youngster.
The Magpies had been chasing the winger in recent weeks and finally agreed a deal with City on Monday, thought to be worth £10million up front with add-ons potentially taking the deal to £12.5m.
Murphy had flown out to Germany on Sunday with his Canaries team-mates for a training camp but then flew to Dublin for a medical yesterday, accompanied by his representative Jamie Moralee, and to join up with the Magpies at their Carton House Hotel base in County Kildare for a pre-season camp in Ireland.
More: Newcastle United finally confirm signing of Norwich City winger Jacob Murphy
The 22-year-old signed a new deal in November 2016, extending his contract until the summer of 2021, and his brother Josh followed suit in January.
The twinsh had been on the books at Queens Park Rangers as youngsters but joined the Norwich academy as under-12s after their parents moved to Downham Market.
Josh was the first to make the first-team breakthrough, during the 2013-14 season, while Jacob was spending time on loan in League One at Swindon and Southend.
The following season the Wembley-born attacker spent a brief spell in the Championship with Blackpool before further League One loans with Scunthorpe and Colchester.
It was 2015-16 that proved the breakthrough for the former Downham Market Academy pupil though, scoring 10 goals in 42 games in all competitions with League One side Coventry City.
More: The loss of Jacob can be compensated by what it means for the Canaries
He returned to Norwich and grabbed his chance last season, establishing himself as a key Canaries player with nine goals and six assists in 37 Championship games, earning his first England Under-21 call-up in March.
Two caps in friendly games followed ahead of the European U21 Championship in Poland at the end of the season, where Murphy – believed to be a boyhood Newcastle fan – scored once in four appearances as Aidy Boothroyd’s side were beaten on penalties by Germany in the semi-finals.
More: Brief England Under-21 career continues rapid development of Norwich City winger Jacob Murphy
That rapid rise in profile caught the attention of Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez, with the wide-man scoring in both City’s dramatic 4-3 away loss and 2-2 home draw with the eventual champions last season.
He has scored 27 goals in 123 senior appearances in total so far in his career but is yet to play in the Premier League.
He becomes the third player to move to Tyneside so far in the off-season, after winger Christian Atsu’s loan from Chelsea was made permanent in a £6.2m deal and defender Florian Lejurne was signed from Eibar for £8.7m.
Former Liverpool boss Benitez was reportedly given a £75m budget by owner Mike Ashley as Newcastle look to re-establish themselves in the top flight.
Murphy was part of City’s 2013 FA Youth Cup winning squad, alongside players including his brother Josh, Harry Toffolo and Carlton Morris, and becomes one of the most expensive sales in the club’s history. He was also capped by England at under-18, U19 and U20 levels.
Robbie Brady was sold for £13m in January and Nathan Redmond in an £11m deal last summer but he is the first academy product to have brought in such high figures since Craig Bellamy was sold to Coventry for around £6m in 2000.
• Scroll down to see more photos of Murphy during his career so far
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here