- Norwich City’s season ended at the start of this month.
- One of their central midfielders won the Barry Butler.
- How each of Norwich’s central midfielders performed in 2025/26.
Norwich City’s season officially came to a close with a 2-1 defeat to Hull City on the final day of the Championship campaign at the start of this month.
In recent days, Read Norwich have rated the club’s goalkeeepers, full-backs, and centre-backs on their performances over the course of the season.
Now it is the central midfielders who are next up to be assessed, starting with a fan favourite…
Marcelino Nunez: 0
Do I really have to say anything else?
Sam Field: 6.5
Sam Field made 15 appearances and played 799 minutes in all competitions for the Yellows after his deadline day loan from Queens Park Rangers.
He came in and did a solid job when needed, providing a combative and physical presence at the base of the midfield, after joining when Pelle Mattsson was out through injury.
Field did not look quite up to it in the bigger games, subbed off at half-time against both Southampton and Ipswich, but no one expected him to be a world-beater.
Mirko Topic: 5
It feels harsh to rate Mirko Topic because he is one of the very few players who did not get a real chance to prove himself under Philippe Clement.
16 of his 18 appearances in all competitions came during Liam Manning’s time in charge, when most players in the squad did not look fit for purpose.
The summer signing from Famalicao only played in three wins and has not enjoyed a win in any of his last 12 appearances in all competitions.
Currently out with an ACL injury that was sustained in Clement’s second game in charge, hopefully he will kick on and show a better version of himself next season.
Jacob Wright: 6
Jacob Wright played 31 times in all competitions and racked up 1,475 minutes, but not all of those minutes came in his preferred role.
Seven of his starts came in a number ten role for the Canaries, mainly prior to the emergence of Anis Ben Slimane and the signing of Paris Maghoma from Brentford in January.
The majority of his starts, though, were in his favoured role at the base of the midfield, starting eight times in central midfield.
Wright did not have a poor campaign, by any means, but he may be disappointed that he only started 13 of his 28 appearances in the Championship after starting ten out of 15 games under Johannes Hoff Thorup and Jack Wilshere.
Hopefully, the 20-year-old talent can kick on next term and show that he learned a lot from his first full season of first-team football.
Pelle Mattsson: 8.5
Pelle Mattsson joined from Silkeborg in the aftermath of Marcelino Nunez’s move to Ipswich and has proven to be an exceptional signing.
The Dane played 2,814 minutes across 34 appearances in all competitions, and ended the season in second place in the voting for the Barry Butler trophy.
Mattsson enjoyed a phenomenal first season in English football, after some early teething issues under Manning, and caught the with both his technical quality and defensive strength.
| 25/26 Championship | Pelle Mattsson | Norwich Squad Rank |
| Interceptions | 41 | 1st |
| Ball Recoveries | 167 | 2nd |
| Tackles | 67 | 3rd |
| Duels Won | 210 | 2nd |
| Ground Duels Won | 133 | 2nd |
| Aerial Duels Won | 65 | 4th |
He very quickly became a fan favourite at Carrow Road because of the way he flies into challenges and is not afraid to get stuck in to win the ball back for the team.
Mattsson is the sort of combative central midfield player Norwich have lacked since Ollie Skipp left the club in 2021, and it is exciting to think about what he can achieve in Norfolk.
Kenny McLean: 8.5
It is hard to look at Kenny McLean and Mattsson and say that one was certainly better than the other, so giving them the same rating feels just.
The Norwich skipper won the Player of the Season award over the Dane, but he had the captaincy and the buzz around making his 300th appearance for the club going in his favour.
The 34-year-old was brilliant in midfield, as he has been for the majority of his Norwich career, and featured in 42 of the club’s 46 matches.
McLean is aging like a fine wine, as cliche as that may sound, as evidenced by a return of three goals, ten ‘big chances’ created, and four assists in the Championship this season.
The Mayor also won 58% of his duels in the division, holding his own in physical battles, and was a well-deserving winner of the Barry Butler.
