Sebastien Bassong at Carrow Road signing for Norwich City. Picture: Twitter

Norwich City confirm signing of Tottenham Hotspur’s Sebastien Bassong

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
12:08 PM

Norwich City have confirmed the signing of Sebastien Bassong from Tottenham Hotspur on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Norwich City boss Chris Hughton commented: “Sebastien is a player that I have known well since my time at Newcastle and I’m delighted to have brought in someone with the Premier League experience he has got.

“He will give us power and pace at the back and again add to the competition in the squad.”

Bassong will wear the number 5 shirt.

Latest Norwich City stories

33 comments

Btw, there has been scant interest on the board in the report on the Under - 21s match v Blackburn. Is it a sign of the times? Footy is all about transfer intrigue & big money. Fantasy football. Foxy did play for 80-odd minutes in that game so maybe we`ll have our Master-Passer available soon?

Report this comment

Mad Brewer

Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Like you, cdu, I cannot for the life of me see why we need another GK. If we let Jed or Dec out on loan, surely we can likewise get one in on loan? Or is there a hidden agenda ref cashing in on JR when the time is right? I really hope NOT! What we could do with is some hope that our forward players can score a few goals. Let`s hope CH uses his loaf and we baguette a striker before we go down the panini.

Report this comment

Mad Brewer

Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Daily Mail reporting that we've up our bid for Bunn to close to 1 mill. A lot of dough for a Bunn we don't need?

Report this comment

canarydownunder

Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Signs of desperation already. I still can't see where the goals are going to come from. You can't expect Holt to carry on scoring like he has done.

Report this comment

Joe Mullets Uncle

Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Buying another striker isn't an issue. We couldve had RVP or Rooney upfront on Saturday and the system means we wouldn't have been much better. Focus on strikers is, to me, erroneous. What we need is a system or style of play that gets the best out of the players we have!!!!

Report this comment

PutneyCanary

Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Spot on, Billy, but not keen on Owen. Time to off load a few (eg Ward or Barny, C Martin, Smith, Lappin and Jacko or Vaughan) to help pay a top striker's wages, although, like others, I'd like to see Vaughan given a go along side Holt or Morison. Seems to me, we must play Hoolahan if we play one up front (away) and Holt and Morison can't play together if we go with two up. Better to have a pacey striker with Holt or Morison (like Vaughan or Jackson). The ability to break quickly is vital especially away from home.

Report this comment

canarydownunder

Wednesday, August 22, 2012
couldn't agree with you more Billy, maybe we'll look at getting a striker on loan, Holt cant do it on his own, Morison doesn't look interested, Jacksons lively and excellent to bring on for the last 25 mins, Martin's lazy and Vaughan will most likely spend two thirds of the season on the treatment table.Michael Owen's available on a free, not sure if we could afford his wage demands though, hopefully Bassong coming in will signal Wards departure

Report this comment

vicellen

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Great signing, very happy with that, strong, solid center back who reads the game well with a fair amount of pace, should make our defence harder to play through at least. Now Hughton, please just 1 striker preferably with some pace! Oh and a more positive approach i.e 2 strikers and counter attacking wingers, then I'll be a very happy fan, despite the first game jitters.

Report this comment

Billy

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
I'm amazed at the negativity of comments on here about signing (yet another) centre back. How many more do we need? The problem is up front, surely. If you don't take the game to the oppo, they put pressure on the back. GH is a fantastic servant to the club, but is now restricted to cameos, elbows and shoves. We need strikers, not playing off Grant, but offering something different

Report this comment

Les Lee

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
make that 'ask for more'

Report this comment

MBA Marine

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
A good signing, well done. A fantastic start to the season, you cant ask for me than to be level on points with Man united, we just need to match them like for like with points and we should finish about 3rd, get in. COYY

Report this comment

MBA Marine

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Putnet Canary---I think you will find that only Safri & Ekoko played in the African Cup Of Nations whilst at Norwich

Report this comment

superfan59

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
To be fair about the 2 relegations, when you look at the numpties in charge (I wonder how much the BBC are paying one of them for his "expertise") at the times I don't think even a combination of Malky and Duncan could have saved either team.

Report this comment

DocOhNo

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Putnet Canary---I think you will find that only Safri & Ekoko played in the African Cup Of Nations whilst at Norwich

Report this comment

superfan59

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
So we have signed a defender who had a poor season @ wolves and didnt help them stay up, and it reads we've paid over the odds?!?!? am slightly annoyed with this purchase! its a striker we need!

Report this comment

Penfold

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
So the rumours are that Bassong cost £5.5m... doesn't exactly leave much in the 'striker kitty' really

Report this comment

wisemanthree

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
If Bassong goes to the African Cup of Nations, we`ll just have to get Dani back. IF there`s a recall clause.....

Report this comment

Mad Brewer

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
this now means that we can field a completely new back four from last season, when Whittaker is fit of course. welcome addition, Barny or Ward on their way?

Report this comment

goldeneadie

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
As I've already mentioned today, I am very happy with this signing - and all the talk of two relegations is, to me, irrelevant. However, I think even the most optimistic fan will agree we will have to scrap for our lives this season...and unless I'm mistaken, Bassong is a Cameroon international...which likely means he'll be away for over a month at the turn of the year at the African Cup of Nations. We'll see how important he becomes to the team (I think very!) - so it might come as a big loss when he scootes off to South Africa for a month in January...! Out of interest, would this be the first Norwich representative in the Cup of Nations? I can't think of another off the top of my head? Did Youseff, Efan or Dckson ever go?

Report this comment

PutneyCanary

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
I said on an earlier post, how fickle footy fans are. Today proof positive, our Gallic addition has blown away the blues. Saturday has been put to bed. Folks, our tartan ex had it right, not to get too elated on a win - don't get too depressed on the back of a loss. Stand back, be more philosophical - well, at least at this point in the season.

Report this comment

Dissaster

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Sorry, I meant one "loan" not "load"

Report this comment

CovCanary

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
As I wrote on another post, one player alone doesn't get a team relegated. The whole team has a part to play in success or failure. It wasn't just Turner who lost us the game against Fulham but the team, including the manager. At Newcastle he was player of the season despite getting relegated, so he was their best player. He also proved a good addition to Spurs. Wolves, well, it would have taken a lot more than one load to have rescued them. I think he will prove to be a good addition for us.

Report this comment

CovCanary

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
As I said on the same page, richard, it wasn`t all HIS fault! Give him a chance!! Some new songs for players: A version of "Cushie Butterfield" for young Jacob. And, as the evenings draw in @ Carra Rud, "Sing Bassong at twilight". I`ll leave Snodgrass to somebody else! OTBC. ;-)

Report this comment

Mad Brewer

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
As I've just said on the other page: Hmmm, couldn't prevent Newcastle being relegated... Couldn't prevent Wolves being relegated... Third time luck then we all hope???

Report this comment

richard

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Footy`s ALL about money now. As many have said, only the mugs (aka fans) are loyal. So those whose pockets are handsomely filled are not loyal, those who blithely cough up huge sums for replica kit & other rip-offs are loyal. Now that is paradoxically predictable, if that`s not oxymoronic!

Report this comment

Mad Brewer

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Not allowed to talk to Putney now!

Report this comment

Mad Brewer

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
I thought it`d be £4million tops, Putney. You`re probably closer. I wonder if there`s much left in Hoots` kitty until he flogs a few. Just don`t flog the Horse, he`s not dead yet! I still believe he`ll get into double figures again, goals-wise. Trouble with football these days is that it is TOO much about money. Sad but true.

Report this comment

Mad Brewer

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
I thought it`d be £4million tops, Putney. You`re probably closer. I wonder if there`s much left in Hoots` kitty until he flogs a few. Just don`t flog the Horse, he`s not dead yet! I still believe he`ll get into double figures again, goals-wise. Trouble with football these days is that it is TOO much about money. Sad but true.

Report this comment

Mad Brewer

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
So now we know why the number 5 shirt wasn't assigned last week!!!

Report this comment

Algarve Canary

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
As advised, read the Daily Mail article on Mr Bassong. A great headline, if that is all that is required for full and total understanding of a subject. The article provides us with a list of players at Spurs, our recently acquired parisien labours behind, only time will tell, of course, but confidence in sport, as in life, so often provides the key to success. Yeah . . . time will tell?

Report this comment

Dissaster

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
My guess is no more than £2.5m to £3m. A little question from me: why only a 3 year deal for a 26 year old? I've seen this a fair bit from Norwich (except Turner apparently got a 4 year deal). As I understand it, we are able to offer up to 5 year deals. Presumably we have the requisite relegation wage drop clauses inserted - feels a bit short sighted - if he is a success (which I expect him to be) - this means he only has 1 year left at the age of 28 - perfect age for poachers to come in and take a quality player (or give him perfect negotiating platform for much increased deal with us). Just note all the problems the Gunners have had with exactly this point...if you back your signings to perform (which you should, otherwise don't sign them), I would have thought its better to get on longest deals possible. Insurance covers long-term injury issues...Perhaps this is player power in action - i.e. no benefit to player to sign for more than 3 years for the above reasons...

Report this comment

PutneyCanary

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
If Spurs paid £8million for him, I wonder what NCFC had to cough up? "Power and pace at the back", just the job! I fear there may not be a great deal left in Hoots` War Chest now, vicellen. Unless we sell off a few ourselves - but who? And I don`t suppose we have anybody to offload that commands a film-star fee. We`ll see. OTBC.

Report this comment

Mad Brewer

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
What a great addition, top quality player, now lets have a striker please Mr Hughton

Report this comment

vicellen

Tuesday, August 21, 2012