Bradley Johnson left Norwich City after four years in Norfolk yesterday on deadline day to Derby County.
It came as a surprise to both fans of Derby and Norwich. Bradley Johnson was Norwich’s player of the season last season and only Cameron Jerome scored more goals for the Canaries last season.
Derby County managed to bag the 28 year old for £6m and has stated his reasoning on joining Derby in an interview with dcfc.co.uk.
“I’m delighted to come to such a club with great history and such great potential,”
“I am delighted to sign and I’m looking forward to getting started.”As soon as I heard Derby had shown interest in me, I wanted to come and talk to the club.”I came down, walked around the training ground – they are great facilities – and I watched the lads train.”I just wanted to get signed up.”
After speaking highly of Derby’s facilities, Johnson spoke about his promotion last season with Norwich.
“Derby have been close to winning promotion in the last two seasons, something I did with Norwich last season,” he added.”Things didn’t work out for me at Norwich and I have come here and I’m looking forward to, hopefully, doing that (winning promotion) at Derby.”
Bradley Johnson was an integral part of Norwich City’s promotion campaign last term and clearly feels like his new side has the same qualities to be able to replicate Norwich’s success and Johnson could well yet have a huge part to play in it.
After Bradley Johnson signed, Derby’s Paul Clement spoke about his last summer signing.”Being able to bring Bradley to Derby represents a major coup for the football club”
He then spoke about Johnson’s vast Championship and Premier League experience.
“His experience will prove invaluable to us. He knows how to get out of this division, he has played a lot of Premier League football”These are all qualities that we are looking to bring to Derby County and we are delighted to have a player of his stature and quality added to our squad.”
Going by what the two men have said, It seems like it is a good move for both the club and the player. Bradley Johnson clearly felt that he was not needed at Norwich and Derby feel like they have got a superb player, and indeed, they have. There may be questions over Bradley Johnson’s Premier League quality but there is no doubting that he is a fantastic Championship player and is sure to have a great season at Derby alongside former Norwich team-mate Chris Martin.
Bradley Johnson may have said that he was delighted to sign for ‘Derby City’ instead of County but I am sure the Derby fans will warm to him fairly quickly with his hard working passionate play and fantastic goals.
Norwich replaced Johnson yesterday with the signing of Matt Jarvis from West Ham on a season long loan deal.
