READING are today beginning life without Oliver Norwood after the midfielder completed a move to Championship rivals Brighton and Hove Albion.
The 25-year-old last night penned a three-year contract with Chris Houghton’s side and switches to The AMEX Stadium for an undisclosed fee.
Norwood, who made 81 appearances for Royals following his transfer from Huddersfield Town back in 2014, becomes the second player to quit the club this summer for a fellow league rival after Aaron Tshibola sealed a £5million move to Aston Villa.
The playmaker had been strongly linked with Premier League Bournemouth in recent times but will now continue his career a little further along the south coast.
While many will be disappointed to see Norwood exit Madejski Stadium, having only had a year left to run on his existing deal it could be seen as good and sensible business all round.
One of the stars of the Northern Ireland squad which reached the knockout stages of Euro 2016, the player is hoping to draw on such experiences as he helps his new charges plot a route to the top flight this term after the much-fancied Seagulls were beaten in the play-offs by Sheffield Wednesday last season.
“Playing at the Euros was an incredible experience and something that I will hold with me for the rest of my life,” he said.
“I want to draw on that and hopefully add a bit of experience of playing in those games and the big occasions that come with them.”
The Manchester United graduate added: “My ambition is to play in the Premier League and I am sure the ambition of everyone at Brighton is to get there as quickly as possible.
“Having had that conversation with the gaffer, it was an easy decision for me to come to the football club.
“I have played against Brighton on numerous occasions; it was always a team that I have looked at from afar and admired the way they play football.”
Norwood, brought to the club by then boss Nigel Adkins in a £1.5m deal, made his debut as a substitute during a 4-0 loss at Nottingham Forest.
He went on to notch five times – with his last goal ironically the winner against the same club during a 2-1 victory back in April – and assisted with countless more.
He is available for Brighton’s Championship opener at Derby County on Saturday and could very well be involved when his new club visit Reading in just three weeks’ time (August 20).
