Norwich have announced the signing of Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom on a season-long loan deal.
The 22-year-old, who signed a new four-year contract with the Reds in May, spent last season on loan at West Brom, having previously impressed in the Sky Bet Championship for Derby in a temporary spell the previous campaign.
Press Association Sport understands the newly-promoted Canaries will pay a loan fee of £1.25million for the England Under-21 defender, who can operate as a full-back or in the centre.
BREAKING | @LFC defender Andre Wisdom is set to join #ncfc on a season-long loan. Full story: http://t.co/YBneVtQbWx pic.twitter.com/7wjpIjVkHt
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) July 29, 2015
There were high hopes for Wisdom at Liverpool when he broke into the first team during the 2012/13 campaign, making 19 appearances in all competitions and looking strong against Premier League opposition.
However, amid his succession of loan spells, the former Bradford City trainee has made just three more appearances for the Reds.
The recent arrival of Nathaniel Clyne from Southampton this summer had put Wisdom back further in the pecking order for places in defence, with Alberto Moreno remaining the club’s first-choice left-back.
Wisdom will gain further valuable experience in the top flight with the Canaries, and can expect much more game time than if he’d stayed at Liverpool — where Jon Flanagan is expected to return from long-term injury in the near future.
Norwich boss Alex Neil said on the club's website: "I'm delighted as Andre fits our profile in terms of getting hungry players in who want to make their way in the game.
"He's also had Premier League experience with a few different clubs, so we're happy to get it over the line. It will add to the competition for places as he's a flexible player.
"In the past he's played centre-back and right-back. Having added competition to the left-hand side with Robbie Brady, it was important to add something to the right side as well.
"The squad is certainly getting stronger, which I'm really pleased about."
Wisdom needs regular first-team football and going out on loan again seemed the obvious move after new arrival Joe Gomez impressed on Liverpool's recent tour to Asia and Australia to move up the pecking order.
Gomez, a £3.5million signing from Charlton, was deployed at left-back for some of the friendlies and looks like being able to provide cover on both flanks as well as in the centre if necessary.
Is Wisdom going out on loan to Norwich for the season a good move for club and player? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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