Winger Borja Sainz has departed Norwich City to join FC Porto for a reported fee of £14.25 million.
The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Portuguese giants, who have claimed the national championship 30 times. This move comes after Sainz's two-year stint at Carrow Road.
Last season, Sainz was Norwich's top scorer in the Championship, netting 18 goals despite being suspended for six matches due to a spitting incident. He initially joined the Canaries from Turkish side Giresunspor in June 2023.
Norwich's sporting director, Ben Knapper, expressed his appreciation on the club's website, stating, "During his time with us, his performances and impact have been brilliant. He gave us many memorable moments, scored spectacular goals, and was often the deciding factor in many of our games."
"This is a fantastic move for all parties, with Borja now progressing onto the next stage of his career with a top European club in FC Porto. It also demonstrates our ability to identify and develop players for the highest levels of the game. Everyone involved deserves huge credit for their work," Knapper added.
To fill the void left by Sainz, the Canaries have signed Denmark international Mathias Kvistgaarden, who is versatile enough to play both as a striker and a winger.
Meanwhile, speculation surrounds forward Josh Sargent's future at the club. The United States international has been linked with a move to Premier League newcomers Burnley, although he still has three years remaining on his contract.
In his debut season at Norwich, Sainz made an immediate impact by scoring in an EFL Cup tie against Fulham and adding seven more goals across all competitions, including a memorable strike against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup.
He began the 2024-25 season in impressive form, scoring 16 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions, which included two hat-tricks against Derby County and Plymouth Argyle.
However, his form dipped in the latter half of the campaign, and he added only two more goals, finishing second in the Championship's top scorer list, just behind Leeds United's Joel Piroe.
This downturn was exacerbated by a six-match ban for spitting at Sunderland defender Chris Mepham in a December 2024 match at the Stadium of Light. Sainz issued a full apology, stating, "Spitting at an opponent is completely out of character for me, and my reaction in that moment was unacceptable. I am deeply disappointed in myself and for letting all of you down through my conduct."
Following Norwich's 3-1 pre-season victory over Northampton Town, new head coach Liam Manning described Sainz's transfer as a "terrific deal" for the club in an interview with BBC Radio Norfolk.
"It allows us to improve the team, and that's part and parcel of football now. My job is to concentrate on what we've got here and how we get the group ready for next week and beyond. We're working hard behind the scenes to add. There are still a few faces we need to add and will add, so we'll keep pushing on that and make the squad as strong as we can," Manning said.
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