Norwich City: Grant Hanley exit allows for key aspect of 2025/26 plans to emerge.
Grant Hanley’s exit from Carrow Road could be excellent news for Norwich City youth prospect Brad Hills, positioning him to be a crucial player next season.
According to Alan Nixon, the Scot has been linked with a move back to old club Blackburn Rovers. Hanley, the club captain, has made nearly 200 games for the Canaries, and no one can doubt his dedication and enthusiasm for the Norfolk club. But, following a terrible injury against the same team he’s expected to join, he hasn’t been able to reach the heights he once attained at Carrow Road.
With Shane Duffy, Jose Cordoba and Callum Doyle taking priority in the centre-half position this season, a new challenge for Hanley makes sense for all parties, and it could bring the younger, up-and-coming Hills into the fold.
Brad Hills is one of the future
Many fans thought a loan deal for the Norwich-born defender would be the best option this January. However, it looks that head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup does not share these feelings. He commented on the Pink Un: “I will not hide the fact I actually prefer that he stays, because the way that we play is different to many other clubs and the level of training out here means he is dealing with some of the best strikers in the league.” Hills is definitely a player who the Norwich management team admires, and he has committed his future to the club until 2027. Barring a few appearances, he’s not been close to the starting back line this season, but Thorup’s desire to keep him at Carrow Road shows the intent with his future.
As with any young athlete, figuring out their development route is critical, and there’s no doubt Thorup and his staff have struggled with Hills. On the one hand, it would be simple to try to get him up to speed by sending him down the football league for the minutes that are so often game changers for any young player’s career. On the other side, and as Thorup appears to prefer, keeping him in and around the squad provides him with all of the knowledge he needs to really get going whenever Callum Doyle returns to Manchester City. Hills’ player of the season effort with Accrington Stanley demonstrates that he is obviously poised to make a name for himself in the Championship. but the cautious approach applied to him this season provides the perfect opportunity to jump straight in during 2025/26.
| Brad Hills stats for Accrington Stanley, according to FotMob | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 43 (3810′) |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Tackles won | 55 |
| Duels won | 65.9% |
| Average rating | 7.1 |
Hanley out, Hills in for Norwich
Hanley spent much of the season on the bench. He’s played more minutes for his country than he has for Norwich this season. It’s terrible that injuries have cut short his time at Carrow Road, but he might be a viable option if management believes it’s best to shore up the defence in the closing moments of a game.
If he leaves, Hills is a ready-made replacement, and Norwich fans may expect a few more off-the-bench outings in the second half of the season. Shane Duffy looks like a man reborn this season, and Jose Cordoba and Callum Doyle have both proven to be reliable centre-backs, so it’s reasonable that Hills hasn’t been thrown into the deep end just yet. In line with the notion of a long-term project, Thorup-ballon may benefit from a full season on the training pitch, and he’ll also have more responsibilities as a defensive squad option if Hanley leaves. As one door shuts for Hanley, another may open for Hills.
Read more on sportupdates.co.uk
Leave a Reply