Norwich City have signed Pierre Lees-Melou from Nice for an undisclosed fee until June 2024.
The attacking midfielder joins Norwich after enjoying a successful 2020-21 campaign for Nice with five goals in 33 appearances, as the Ligue One club finished ninth.
Speaking to canaries.co.uk, Lees-Melou spoke of feeling “very excited” to make the move to Norwich and play in the Premier League this season.
Lees-Melou also confirmed that he has enjoyed “a very long conversation about football and the vision for the team” with manager – Daniel Farke and Sporting Director, Stuart Webber concerning Norwich’s style, spirit and mentality.
The 28 year-old also revealed that he had spoken to ex Premier League midfielder, Morgan Schneiderlin and QPR’s Yoann Barbet about English Football, with both players praising the Canaries’ “position and standing.”
Farke meanwhile rated Lees-Melou’s “football qualities” as a player who has a “really good technical” ability plus is impressive on the ball as he also boasts a versatile “physical ability every game to cover lots of ground and can play many positions and roles.”
On how Lees-Melou can help Norwich avoid a third consecutive relegation after winning promotion back to Premier League, Farke said: “He has a great character and personality. It is not a coincidence and is always a good sign when a player is allowed to wear the captain’s armband at such a big club like Nice.”
Lees-Melou is Norwich’s fifth senior signing of the summer transfer window after Milot Rashica, Angus Gunn, Dimitris Giannoulis and Ben Gibson all made permanent moves to Carrow Road in recent weeks.
Flynn Clarke, Kenny Coker and Dylan Berry have also signed for the Canaries but are set to start the season as part of the Development and Academy setup, with potential to graduate into the senior squad later in season for cup and league matches.
Sam McCallum meanwhile has gone out on loan to QPR until end of 2021-22 season.
