Norwich City are on the verge of finalising the acquisition of promising Derry City midfielder Glenn McCourt, as the club intensifies its focus on strengthening its youth framework ahead of the new season.
The 17-year-old, who is related to former Celtic and Northern Ireland international Paddy McCourt, has caught the eye with his impressive performances in the League of Ireland.
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McCourt’s career trajectory has been marked by early promise. He made his senior debut with Derry City, turning down advances from several Premier League clubs eager to secure his signature. However, Norwich's sustained interest appears to have gained momentum, with reports suggesting that McCourt is set to join their development squad imminently.
The young midfielder's potential has not gone unnoticed; Derry City revealed last year that they had rejected "two concrete and sizeable offers" from top-tier teams for the Northern Ireland youth international. McCourt chose to remain with Derry to gain essential first-team experience. In a conversation with the Derry Journal last September, he stated, “I can understand why lads are tempted to go across, but I know myself that I'm not ready just yet. I haven't played any men's senior football yet and I don't see much point in going across just to play more academy football for a couple of years."
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His ambitions are clear. He emphasised, "Standard-wise the League of Ireland is a much better option," reflecting his desire to solidify his place in Derry’s senior squad. "My ambition remains to play at the highest level possible and I'm desperate to make that happen. For me, though, I'd much rather do that at 17 with some senior experience under my belt rather than do it before I feel ready and end up back here a year later."
Norwich City’s recruitment strategy extends beyond McCourt; the club are reportedly looking to further enhance their development squad this summer. Fleetwood Town’s Reece Wilkes is also believed to be on the brink of a transfer, while Swindon Town’s Botan Ameen remains a target.