- Kenny McLean is heading closer to the end of his career.
- The Scotland international has 12 months left on his contract.
- Norwich have an academy talent who could be his eventual heir.
Norwich City supporters across the globe rejoiced when Kenny McLean revealed to BBC Norfolk that his contract extension had already been triggered.
The Scotland international’s contract had been due to expire at the end of this season, but there was an option to extend it by a further 12 months.
That has already been triggered and the central midfielder is under contract at Carrow Road until the summer of 2027.
Kenny McLean’s role at Norwich next season
Despite only having 12 months left on his deal, there is nothing to suggest that McLean’s role is going to be reduced any time soon.
The left-footed star won the club’s Player of the Season award for the 2025/26 campaign, after starting 41 of the club’s 46 Championship matches.
McLean and Pelle Mattsson are the clear first-choice central midfield pairing for Philippe Clement heading into next season, and that does not look likely to change.
The Norwich captain is the orchestrator at the heart of the midfield for the Belgian head coach, dictating play with his ability on the ball.
| 25/26 Championship | Kenny McLean | Rank Within Norwich Squad |
| Touches | 3,129 | 1st |
| Passes Made (Completed) | 1,924 | 1st |
| Passes into the Final Third | 248 | 1st |
| Key Passes (Chances Created) | 53 | 1st |
| Expected Assists (xA) | 6.13 | 1st |
| Assists | 4 | 1st |
His rank among his teammates in a host of possession-based metrics illustrate just how important he is to the team with the ball at his feet, which is why he will still be a key player next season.
What the future holds
McLean, though, does turn 35 next January and his current contract expires in 2027, so it remains to be seen whether or not his journey at the club will extend beyond next year.
This means that Knapper and Clement already need to be thinking about what comes next, because the Scottish ace will need to be replaced at some point.
Jacob Wright has the technical qualities to play in McLean’s role, as he did effectively against Hull City on the final day, but he lacks the physicality that the Scot brings to the table.
The former Manchester City youngster is not as mobile and strong as McLean in duels, although that is something that he can work on in the coming months.
Whilst Wright is a potential heir to the throne and certainly has the quality to be a star for Norwich in the future, the Canaries may already have their next McLean in the making in the academy.
Norwich’s new Kenny McLean in the making
The club’s U21s recently lost 4-2 to Huddersfield Town in their play-off final at Carrow Road, despite taking the lead twice.
Whilst it was a disappointing evening for the young Canaries, central midfielder Alan Domeracki caught the eye in the middle of the park.
The Scottish ace, who joined from Dundee United in January 2025, has been a regular for the U21s this season, playing 22 times.
Since making the move from north of the border, Domeracki has provided four assists in 25 U21 matches and two goals and one assist in 13 games for the U18s.
Those creative numbers will not come as a surprise to anyone who watched him in the game against Huddersfield, as he sat the base of the midfield and dictated play with his impressive range of passing.
The most impressive part of his game, though, was his mentality. Domeracki misplaced a couple of early passes that led to dangerous chances for Huddersfield, but that did not stop him trying things.
He continued to make things happen with the ball at his feet, playing passes on the floor and over the top to find teammates in advanced positions, which shows that he is not afraid to make mistakes.
Like McLean, he is also effective from set-piece situations. It was his brilliant corner that was headed home by Dylan Jones for the opening goal against Huddersfield.
Domeracki also showed great physicality in the game, using his tall frame to hold off defenders in duels, and could be more effective in physical battles than Wright currently is.
What comes next for Alan Domeracki
The Canaries teen does not turn 20 until October and is still in the very early stages of his career, which means that there should not be any pressure for him to make an immediate impact in the first-team.
That is why the club should look to find the 19-year-old talent a loan move for the 2025/26 campaign so that he can go and experience senior football on a regular basis.
Domeracki already looks like he has the physicality and technical quality to perform in a first-team environment, but a loan would help to learn the nuances of the senior game.
If he has a successful year away on loan, the Scottish maestro could come back as McLean’s career at Norwich comes to an end, giving him the opportunity to emerge as his successor.
However, it is down to Domeracki to go and show that he has the quality, mentality, and physicality required to be a success at the top level, which is what sending him out on loan would give him the chance to do.
