Borja Sainz is on the verge of completing his anticipated transfer to FC Porto, with an official announcement expected shortly. The forward’s departure from Norwich City has seemed inevitable throughout the summer, particularly as he enters the final year of his contract at Carrow Road.
Initial bids from both Porto and Napoli fell short of Norwich’s valuation, prompting the clubs to reassess their offers for the 24-year-old, who netted 18 goals last season.
According to the BBC, Norwich have now settled on a transfer fee of £14.25 million, a significant increase from Porto's initial proposal of £12.7 million, which Norwich's sporting director, Ben Knapper, deemed inadequate.
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Knapper has consistently highlighted Norwich's track record of securing lucrative deals for their players, a sentiment echoed by the club's supporters, especially following the departures of Jonathan Rowe and Gabriel Sara last summer. While the agreement to sell Sainz represents only a £1.55 million increase over the original offer, it includes a 20 per cent sell-on clause, potentially allowing Norwich to benefit further should Sainz thrive at Porto.
However, the sale carries financial implications for Norwich. Reports indicate that the club must pay £215,000 to Athletic Bilbao, where Sainz developed as a youth player.