CITY are delighted to confirm the signing of striker GaryHooper from Celtic for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal - withthe Club having an option on a further year.
The25-year-old becomes City boss Chris Hughton’s seventh summer signingafter making the switch back to English football following ahugely-successful stint with SPL champions Celtic.
Hooperstarted his career as a youngster with Spurs and then joined Grays in2005, scoring eight goals in 37 appearances for them before moving toSouthend United on a free transfer in August 2006. Grays won aConference South title and the FA Trophy twice during his time there.
Hescored four goals in 44 appearances for Southend but also had two loanspells, scoring two goals in four games for Leyton Orient in 2007 andfinding the net 11 times in 19 games for Hereford the following year ashe helped them win promotion from League Two.
Hoopermade a £175,000 switch to Scunthorpe United in 2008 and his careerreally took off at this point, as he fired in 50 goals in 95 appearancesin all competitions in his two seasons with the Iron. He was votedScunthorpe’s player of the season in 2008-09, helping them to achievepromotion to the Championship via the play-offs.
Hisprolific scoring for Scunthorpe persuaded Celtic to make a £2.4m swoopfor him in July 2010 and he’s gone on to rack up 82 goals in 137appearances for the Scottish giants. Hooper was Celtic’s top scorer forthree consecutive seasons in 2010-11 (22 goals), 2011-12 (29) and2012-13 (31).
Celtic have won two SPL titlesand two Scottish FA Cups during Hooper’s time with them and he has wonthe SPL Golden Boot in 2011-12 and twice been included in the SPFA SPLTeam of the Year, in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Speakingexclusively to
www.canaries.co.uk, Hooper said he was pleased to jointhe Canaries after months of speculation linking him with a move toCarrow Road:"There's been a lot of speculation going back to January and I'm pleased to have finally put pen to paper and joined Norwich.
"Ican't wait to get down to work, to get training with the lads andworking with the coaching staff. I knew Chris Hughton and ColinCalderwood from my youth days at Spurs so it will be great to be backworking with them in the Premier League.
"Ihave scored goals at every level I have played at and the challenge ofplaying in the Premier League is really exciting to me."
Hoopersaid his new club came highly-recommended to him by former Canaryloanee Fraser Forster, the Celtic 'keeper who won a League One titlemedal with City in 2009-10.
"I had a chat withFraser about Norwich and he said it was a great club, with great fansand in a really nice part of the world. He said he really enjoyed histime here."The striker also had a special word in parting forCeltic and their fans: "I just want to thank everyone up there for thepast few years - the fans have been fantastic to me and the club havereally looked after me."
http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/hoopersigns-26-jul-13-946267.aspx [ 此帖被barrin在2013-07-27 00:33重新編輯 ]
