Everton midfielder Kieran Dowell has joined Norwich City on a permanent deal.
Dowell made his senior debut with the Blues in 2014 but only went on to record four more first-team appearances over the space of five seasons.
A succession of loan spells with Championship clubs saw him spending time with Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Derby County and Wigan Athletic.
Hopes had been high for Dowell to join the likes of Tom Davies and Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a regular fixture within Goodison Park’s first-team setup.
The trio featured in England’s World under-17 Championships triumph in 2017 alongside fellow academy graduates Jonjoe Kenny, Ademola Lookman and Callum Connolly.
But Everton have now sanctioned the 22-year-old’s eventual departure to the Canaries, recently relegated from the Premier League, for an undisclosed fee.
“I’m delighted. I’m glad to get it out the way early as well,” Dowell told Norwich’s official website.
“I spoke with Stuart [Webber] and the boss [Daniel Farke] not so long after the season finished so it’s nice to get it sorted.
“There was a bit of interest [from other clubs] towards the end of the season and when Norwich came up, with the history of the club and what they’ve got going on with the boss and the players they’ve got here, I think it was a really good fit for me.
“It’s a massive step in my career which is why I had to make sure it’s the right decision for me. I didn’t want to rush into anything.
“I had a few offers but after speaking with Stuart and the boss and having a look around the training centre, I knew this was the place for me.”