With the transfer window officially opening today, Norwich City confirmed via twitter that international clearance has been given for the signing of Panamanian defender José Córdoba. A deal was agreed a week ago, for a reported fee of £3 million, with it becoming official this morning that Córdoba is new head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup’s first signing.
Who is José Córdoba?
The twenty three year old defender arrives at Norwich after a two year spell at Bulgarian First League side PFC Levski Sofia whom he made 53 appearances for and won the Bulgarian Cup with in 2021-22. The defender was born in Panama City and began his footballing career in the Liga Panameña de Fútbol with Independiente de La Chorrera making 12 appearances prior to a move to Europe with Celta Vigo B and then onto Bulgaria with Etar Veliko Tarnovo and PFC Levski Sofia.
What can Norwich expect from Córdoba?
New head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup described the style of football he likes to play as “proactive” and one “where teams control the ball”. In Córdoba’s first interview with Canaries TV he described himself as a centre back who “likes to have possession of the ball” so it is expected that Norwich have got a ball-playing CB on their hands that is comfortable with the ball at his feet, suiting the new head coach’s footballing ideology. Described as one of, if not the best defender in the Bulgarian league recently, Córdoba is an aggressive defender, one who likes to anticipate the game and is not afraid to make challenges, shown by the fact the defender collected the joint most yellow cards (eight) for PFC Levski Sofia last season.
Córdoba has made 12 appearances for the Panama national team so has experience of playing at a high level within international football. Prior to settling in at Norwich, the defender is set to feature for Los Canaleros in their upcoming Copa America campaign against Bolivia, United States and Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay. Having at times last season been linked to a move north of the border to join Rangers the defender revealed his reasoning for joining the Canaries:
“I see Norwich is like a family, and I was looking for something like that. The idea of the club and the feeling went directly to me and I felt that I had to make this choice”
One in for Norwich, but how many out?
It is not all good news for Norwich though with reports suggesting that Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor have launched a bid for Chilean midfielder Marcelino Núñez. The 24 year old midfielder signed for the Canaries from Chilean side Universidad Católica in 2022 and became an important part of their midfield engine in the second half of the season including scoring the winner against rivals, Ipswich, in April. His contract at Norwich runs until 2026 and the club value their South American midfielder at a significantly higher fee than the rumoured €3.5million bid from Trabzonspor.
Núñez isn’t the only player with rumours swirling about a move away from East Anglia. Academy graduate Adam Idah has been heavily linked with a return to Celtic after his loan spell in the second half of the season. Idah, himself, is said to be keen on a move back north of the border but reports suggest that Norwich are holding out on a valuation of £8 million for the 23 year old with Johannes Hoff Thorup keen to evaluate him in pre-season. Idah scored nine goals in nineteen appearances for The Bhoys including the winner in the Scottish FA Cup Final against Rangers.