Naismith, on Norwich move: 'I had to think a lot about the future'

Photo credit: AFP.

Norwich City on Tuesday announced the signing of Scottish international forward Steven Naismith from Premier League rivals Everton on a three-and-a-half-year contract. The fee for the 29-year-old has not been disclosed, but he is reported to have cost Norwich $12.1 million.

Naismith scored a hat trick in a 3-1 win against Chelsea in September, but decided to move on after making only 13 appearances for Everton this season. In total he made 123 appearances for Everton, scoring 25 goals.

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“Where I was in my career, the age I am and the way the first half of the season has gone for me, I had to think a lot about the future,” Naismith told the Norwich website.

“When January came, it was a case of knowing exactly where I stood and the manager at Everton was good and said that he’d listen to whatever I wanted.

“Norwich have displayed class in the way they’ve done their business all the way through.

“They’ve been fantastic in the sense of showing how much they wanted me, and I’m delighted to be here.”

Everton manager Roberto Martinez described Naismith as a “true professional.”

Naismith follows Swiss defender Timm Klose, Portuguese full-back Ivo Pinto, winger Matt Jarvis and teenage midfielder Ben Godfrey in joining Norwich during the January transfer window.