Norwich have sealed the signing of Peterborough defender Ryan Bennett, the Championship club have confirmed.
Defender will return to Posh on emergency loan until end of February
Norwich have sealed the signing of Peterborough defender Ryan Bennett, the Championship club have confirmed.
Sky Sports
revealed earlier on transfer deadline day that the Canaries were trying to beat other clubs, including fellow Premier League newcomers Swansea, to the stopper's signature.
And the 21-year-old has now arrived at Carrow Road for an undisclosed fee that the Posh are reporting as a club record sale.
Bennett has penned a three-and-a-half year deal with Norwich but will return to London Road on an emergency loan until the end of February, subject to paperwork being completed.
"We knew when we signed Ryan from Grimsby that we were getting a player with fantastic potential and that is why we paid the money we did at the time," Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony told the club's
official website.
"He has proved to be a superb signing and there have been Premier League scouts watching him at every game this season.
Little choice
"Myself and the gaffer (Darren Ferguson) had very little choice in the matter after the player informed us last night and again today that he wanted to leave for a Premier League club and didn't want the club to stand in his way.
"I have also always stated that I would never stand in a player's way should a Premier League club come in for them and offer us a heavy transfer fee at the same time.
"The gaffer was given final call on this deal only a couple of hours ago and he decided that it was in best interest of Peterborough United Football club to accept the offer from Norwich.
"To think only 12 months ago, I was asked to send Ryan out on loan or to move him on and now he is moving to a top-12 Premier League club smashing our existing transfer record by a long way."
Norwich beat off competition for a number of other clubs for the services of the former Mariners defender according to Peterborough, who claim the fee is more than Brighton paid in the summer for Craig Mackail-Smith.
Bennett will return to train with the Posh squad on Thursday ahead of Saturday's Championship clash against Burnley at Turf Moor.
