Norwich City have agreed a deal to sell 21-year-old defender Brad Hills to Stockport County in a move worth over £2m.
The League One side have swooped for the homegrown centre-back as Norwich reshuffle their defensive ranks under new boss Liam Manning.
🚨 #NCFC defender Brad Hills set for a move to #StockportCounty
Medical in the next 24 hours. £2m package, incl potential add ons. Initial fee north of £1m. Significant sell on negotiated
Not featured in either of the first two #NCFC matchday squads
Darling/Medic in the house pic.twitter.com/N5XDkfg3QB
— Paddy Davitt (@paddyjdavitt) August 13, 2025
Stockport land Hills in club-record transfer agreement
Stockport are set to complete one of the biggest signings in their modern history after reaching an agreement with Norwich to sign defender Hills. The deal is understood to be worth more than £2m with add-ons, with the guaranteed fee already surpassing the £1m mark.
Hills, who was born in Norwich, came through the club’s academy and made five senior appearances for the Canaries. He has spent time on loan with Accrington Stanley and Stockport, impressing in both spells and catching the eye with his physical presence and maturity beyond his years.
However, Hills has fallen down the pecking order at Carrow Road following the arrival of Jakov Medic and Harry Darling this summer, adding to a centre-back pool already featuring Jose Cordoba, Ruairi McConville and Shane Duffy.
Despite being highly rated and enjoying a strong pre-season, the 21-year-old has not featured in either of Norwich’s opening matches this season. With first-team chances limited, both parties have opted to pursue a permanent transfer.
Hills returns to Edgeley Park, where he previously made 18 appearances on loan, scoring once. He becomes another key addition to Dave Challinor’s squad as the Hatters aim for back-to-back promotions following their League Two title win in 2024/25.
Writer’s View
This move makes clear sense for all involved. Brad Hills, once touted as a potential long-term option at Carrow Road, now finds himself sixth-choice in a revamped Norwich defence. Rather than stagnate, a return to Stockport County, where he already earned praise, offers the chance to play regularly at a lower level. For Stockport, it’s a huge statement of intent.
A seven-figure outlay for a defender with proven EFL pedigree reinforces their promotion ambition and sends a message to the rest of League One. As for Norwich, this is another sign that Liam Manning’s rebuild will be bold, pragmatic, and perhaps more ruthless than some expected.
