Football: Dan Adshead joins Premier League club Norwich City

Rochdale AFC Academy graduate Dan Adshead has completed a move to Premier League club Norwich City.

The 17-year-old joins Norwich on a long-term deal for an undisclosed fee.

Having been with the club since the age of eight, Adshead is a product of the successful Rochdale Academy, making his first-team debut at just 16-years-old.

After signing his first professional contract last September, he was capped for England Under-18s just two months later. He made an immediate impact for the Young Lions, scoring on his international debut.

Adshead was also named as League One’s LFE Apprentice of the Year for the 2018/19 season.

Manager Brian Barry-Murphy said: “For Dan to come right through our academy system and progress into the first-team environment with us is superb for everyone connected with the club and the academy. The move is a reward for his hard work and amazing attitude during that time.

“It also represents an excellent deal for the football club. When a club comes in for one of our players, they have to do so with an offer that reflects the qualities of that player, which is something Norwich have done with Dan.

“I’ve got to know Dan and his family over a period of time. They’re amazing people and its humbling to be connected to them. The way Dan approaches every challenge he faces is something everyone, including myself, can learn from.

“We’d like to wish Dan all the best for the future and will be keeping a keen eye on his progress at Norwich.”

Chief Executive David Bottomley said: “On behalf of the Chairman and Board of Directors at Rochdale AFC, I would like to thank Dan for his contribution to the club, including helping us retain our League One status in the last two seasons.

“Whilst we are very sad that Dan is leaving us, we are immensely proud of all of our coaching staff at the academy and the club that have helped Dan become the wonderful player he is.

“We are excited to see Dan join a Premier League club with a great history, and wish him the very best for the future.”

After joining the club’s academy aged eight, Adshead rose through the ranks to become a first-team player whilst still at secondary school.

He made his debut for the club in September 2017 at the age of just 16 years and 17 days, in a Checkatrade Trophy tie against Bury, providing an assist in the game which Dale won 4-0.

The teenager would make his EFL debut in December of the same year, before starting in Dale’s FA Cup third-round victory over Doncaster Rovers in January 2018.

The midfielder also made a substitute appearance at Wembley Stadium in a fifth-round replay against Tottenham Hotspur later that season.

He signed scholarship terms after leaving school in June 2018, and then signed a three-year professional contract upon turning 17-years-old, in September 2018.

Days after captaining Dale for the first time, in a Checkatrade Trophy tie against Leicester City Under-21s in November, Adshead was called up to the England Under-18 squad for their four-nation tournament in Spain.

He made his international debut in their first match against The Netherlands, scoring England’s second in a 2-2 draw.

A substitute appearance in their second match, followed by another start in their third, meant Adshead played in all three matches, as England won the mini-tournament.

Less than a month later, the newly capped England international scored his first goal for Rochdale, netting a fine strike in Dale’s 2-0 win over near neighbours Oldham Athletic in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Adshead rounded off a superb 2018/19 campaign by being named as League One’s LFE Apprentice of the Year, collecting his award at the annual EFL Awards evening in April.

In total, the midfielder has made 27 appearances for Rochdale, scoring once.