Norwich City have reached an agreement to sell forward Borja Sainz to Portuguese giants Porto for £14.25 million. The deal also includes a sell-on clause, and the 24-year-old is expected to undergo a medical shortly.
After weeks of speculation, Norwich anticipated an improved bid from the 30-time Primeira Liga champions. Though the final fee came just short of the expected £15 million, all parties appear satisfied as Sainz prepares to embark on the next chapter of his career.
With one year remaining on his contract at Carrow Road, Sainz had expressed a desire to move on, especially after an impressive campaign that saw him net 19 goals across all competitions. Eighteen of those goals came in the Championship, where he finished joint-second in the scoring charts, trailing only Leeds United’s Joel Piroe.
Despite his individual brilliance, Norwich ended the season in 13th place, 11 points adrift of the play-off positions. Sainz’s contributions had been a rare bright spot in an otherwise inconsistent campaign for the Canaries.
Having arrived on a free transfer from Turkish side Giresunspor two years ago, Sainz has proven to be a major bargain. In his 82 appearances for the club, he scored 27 goals, showcasing consistent attacking quality and earning attention from clubs across Europe.
Norwich are also fielding interest for another of their key forwards, Josh Sargent. Burnley are reportedly keen on securing the services of the 25-year-old, with Norwich valuing him at around £20 million. While Sargent still has three years left on his contract, there is a willingness to let him leave if the offer is deemed suitable.
Since joining from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in 2021, Sargent has found the back of the net 48 times in 133 matches for Norwich. His work rate, physicality, and versatility have made him a consistent figure in the squad, and losing both him and Sainz in the same window would be a major reshuffle for the club’s attacking setup.
In anticipation of departures, Norwich have acted swiftly in the transfer market. The club recently secured the signing of 23-year-old Danish striker Mathias Kvistgaarden from Brondby. The move provides head coach Liam Manning with a new forward option as preparations intensify for the upcoming season.
Kvistgaarden brings a blend of youth and European experience and is seen as a potential replacement for either Sainz or Sargent—or both. The recruitment strategy suggests Norwich are planning for all possible outcomes in this transfer window.
Further reinforcements could be on the way, as Norwich have also shown interest in Metz attacker Pape Diallo. The forward was recently linked with a switch to Watford, but Norwich are now pushing to hijack the deal. The club hopes to strengthen its frontline significantly to better compete in the Championship next season.
As pre-season progresses, all eyes will be on how Norwich rebuild their squad in the face of key departures and whether their new signings can fill the void left by two of their most productive players.
