Norwich City have completed the signing of highly-rated teenager Reece Wilkes from Fleetwood Town.
The 16-year-old attacking midfielder becomes the latest addition in a summer focused on revamping the Canaries’ academy setup.
City’s Youth Recruitment Drive Continues
Wilkes arrives at Carrow Road as a first-year scholar after impressing with Fleetwood Town, where he made his senior debut last season in an EFL Trophy clash against Aston Villa’s under-21s. He was also the only player from outside the Premier League and Championship to earn a call-up to England’s under-15 squad in 2023, and has since represented the under-16s on two occasions.
The youngster will link up with Norwich City’s under-18 side as part of a wider overhaul of the club’s youth and development structure spearheaded by sporting director Ben Knapper. The former Arsenal man has made academy recruitment a clear priority this summer, already bringing in goalkeeper Rylee Mitchell from Stevenage and reportedly pursuing further deals for Luke Towler (Ipswich Town), Botan Ameen (Swindon Town), and Coventry City stopper Luis Lines.
Wilkes spoke to Norwich’s official media after signing and outlined his ambition to make an immediate impact.
“I’m excited to get started here. I’m an attacking midfielder, but can play anywhere across the midfield. My game is about creating chances and obviously scoring goals from midfield. That’s what I’m best at,” he said.
He also acknowledged the challenges of moving away from home for the first time but was eager to begin pre-season training after balancing football with recent exams.
“I just want to get settled here, it’s a long way from home. My first time away from home. I just want to help the team with as many goals and assists as possible.”
The teenager becomes the latest signal of intent from Norwich, who are clearly looking to develop a new generation of talent capable of pushing into the senior setup in the coming years.
Writer’s View
This is a smart long-term move by Norwich City. While first-team fans might overlook the significance of a youth signing, Reece Wilkes represents a growing trend of clubs investing in potential before players hit the national spotlight. The fact he was part of the England youth setup while playing outside the top two divisions suggests he has something special.
Ben Knapper’s recruitment strategy is clearly geared towards creating a sustainable pipeline of talent. With other academy targets reportedly lined up, this could be the start of a significant shift in Norwich’s developmental fortunes.
