Norwich City confirm signing of Bosnia international Mario Vrancic from relegated Bundesliga side Darmstadt

Mario Vrancic of Darmstadt in action during a Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in May 2017. Picture: Tobias Hase/DPA DPA/PA Images

Darmstadt midfielder Mario Vrancic has signed a three-year deal with Norwich City, as he becomes the third signing of the summer following the arrival of head coach Daniel Farke.

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Darmstadt's Mario Vrancic, left, in action during a Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in February 2016. Photo: Tobias Hase/DPA Darmstadt's Mario Vrancic, left, in action during a Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in February 2016. Photo: Tobias Hase/DPA

Reports in Germany earlier today claimed the Canaries had sealed a deal worth around £650,000 for Vrancic and that deal has now been confirmed.

The Bosnia & Herzegovina international scored four goals in 23 Bundesliga games last season as Darmstadt slipped to relegation, finishing bottom of the German top tier.

Vrancic is 28 years old and previously represented Germany at youth levels, having begun his career at Mainz. He came to prominence with SC Paderborn though, where new Norwich boss Farke and his assistant Eddie Riemer both have links.

Farke played for Paderborn as a young player and studied in the town, while Riemer moved to Germany at 10 years old and grew up in the town, which is around 65 miles from Dortmund.

Darmstadt's Mario Vrancic is set to sign a three-year deal with Norwich City. Picture: Armin Weigel/DPA Darmstadt's Mario Vrancic is set to sign a three-year deal with Norwich City. Picture: Armin Weigel/DPA

Vrancic said: “It’s a big move for me, having spent my whole career in Germany, but I’m happy to be joining.

“I had a good conversation with the coach. I’ve been here for a couple of days as well and after that I decided very quickly I wanted to be part of Norwich.

“I have a very good friend living in Frankfurt who lived in London for three years. I asked him about Norwich City and he said it would be a good move.

“It’s a good city with a good stadium, so there’s everything that you need. I’m really happy and very proud to soon be part of Norwich.

“Now I want to learn the English language as quickly as I can to acclimatise with everything here.”

Reports in Bosnia also claim that Vrancic turned down Premier League new boys Huddersfield – the former club of City sporting director Stuart Webber – and two Bundesliga clubs to join the Canaries.

More: Daniel Farke’s right-hand man Edmund ‘Eddie’ Riemer reveals how Norwich City’s new boss likes to do business

Vrancic also played for Borussia Dortmund II during the 2011-12 season but that was before Farke and Riemer were part of that set up.

He played for Serbia in a 5-0 thrashing of Gibraltar in World Cup qualifying in March, coming on in the 56th minute.

Vrancic was a club record €500,000 signing for Darmstadt in 2015 but local newspaper Darmstaedter ECHO are reporting he had a relegation release clause which allows him to move on this summer.

Fans of the Lilies had been expecting him to leave as he had become a regular player due to his abilities with free-kicks and the ability to play offensively and defensively in midfield, the newspaper is also reporting.

The midfielder – who specialises in set-pieces – played 30 times as Paderborn finished bottom of the Bundesliga in 2014-15 but then signed for newly promoted Darmstadt, making 22 appearances as 14th place and safety was secured in 2015-16.

“I have a good mix, a good eye for the game,” Vrancic added of his style, speaking to City’s official website.

“I can defend as well as sometimes score and create goals. There is a little bit of everything. Having competition [for places] is normal in football and that’s good.

“I’ll try to play as many games as I can. The most important thing is I want to stay healthy and to help the team and the coach reach our goals. That’s very important.”

The news follows speculation that midfielders Jonny Howson and Graham Dorrans could both leave Norwich this summer, with the Express today reporting Rangers have bid £750,000 for Dorrans but that City want £1.5million.

Watch a video above of one of Vrancic’s goals for Paderborn in a 2-2 Bundesliga draw with Werder Bremen towards the end of the 2014-15 season.