Norwich City have completed the signing of Croatian attacker Ante Crnac.
The highly-rated 20-year-old has joined in a deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be worth £8.5m plus add-ons, from Polish side Rakow Częstochowa and has signed a four year contract at Carrow Road. With a further one year option.
City confirmed his arrival on Thursday night, with Crnac expected to be registered in time for the Canaries next Championship game against Sheffield United at Carrow Road on Saturday.
The arrival of the Croatian Under-21 international ends City’s pursuit of a striking replacement after losing Adam Idah on a permanent basis, following his £8.5m return to Scottish champions Celtic earlier this month.
Crnac is City’s fifth addition of the summer transfer window, following Jose Cordoba, Ben Chrisene, Callum Doyle and Amankwah Forson.
“I cannot describe how excited I am and I can’t wait to get on the pitch and play,” Crnac said, speaking to the club’s official site.
“The club showed me a plan of how they see me, how they want to develop me. I really like that idea and we all decided, my family and I, that it seems like a perfect step for me.
“It has been a busy few days. But that is the life of football players and we need to get used to that. Of course I followed the Premier League but I also watched some games of the Championship and I know it is a pretty strong league. One of the strongest.
“I think I play best when I can drop between the lines and face the goal. I like to have the ball at my feet, but also I like to shoot and score goals and provide assists.”
City sporting director Ben Knapper added: “Ante is a very exciting talent, and someone we have been tracking for some time.
“He is a young player who will need time to adapt to his new surroundings, team-mates and style of play, but we believe he can have success here in both the medium and long term. He is a real asset that we feel we can develop into a player for the highest level.
“We’re delighted to be able to welcome him to the club and are excited to see how he can progress, improve and help the team.”
Their pursuit of the Croatian intensified after an issue in the medical scuppered a permanent move for Rennes forward Bergot Yildirim last week despite the deal being at an advanced stage.
City then turned their attentions to Crnac, who can play across the forward line. He will bolster a striking stable that contains Josh Sargent, Ashley Barnes and young Ken Aboh.
Crnac began his career at Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb before moving to Slaven Belupo, where he netted 11 goals in 56 appearances. A transfer to Poland followed, where the youngster has blossomed in the Ekstraklasa with his all-round performances.
The Croatian is understood to be taking one of City’s ESC (Elite Significant Contribution) slots that enables them to sign a certain amount of players from overseas without the need of a work permit following alterations to rules post-Brexit.
The 20-year-old will become City’s second ever player born in Croatia to represent the club following Drazen Muzinic in the 1980s.
Norwich are also in advanced negotiations for Danish Under-19 international Oscar Schwartau.
The teenager has headed to England to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms after Norwich thrashed out a reported £2.1m deal with Brondby for the youngster.
