For the past two decades, Norwich City has either been battling at the top end of the Championship or competing against the giants of the Premier League.
During this period, the Canaries have earned promotion to the top flight four times, with several players becoming fan favorites and cementing their legacies in East Anglia.
Among them was Finnish striker Teemu Pukki, who became a modern-day legend at the club.
In 2018, then-Norwich boss Daniel Farke took a gamble by signing Pukki on a free transfer, despite the forward’s underwhelming stint with Celtic in Scotland. Many doubted whether he had the quality to make an impact in English football.
However, Farke saw something in Pukki that others overlooked, and for good reason. Few could have predicted just how influential he would become for Norwich, especially considering he arrived without a transfer fee.
Pukki spent five unforgettable seasons at Carrow Road, becoming a fan favorite and earning a lasting place in the hearts of Norwich supporters.
Following their relegation from the Premier League in 2016, Norwich finished eighth and 14th in the Championship, and expectations were low when Pukki arrived.
Given his struggles in Scotland and free-agent status, his signing wasn’t met with much excitement. Yet, he quickly won over the Norwich faithful, becoming the team’s most reliable attacking outlet.
In the 2018/19 season, Norwich dominated the Championship, finishing as champions, with Pukki playing a crucial role by netting an astonishing 29 league goals. His performances earned him the Championship Golden Boot, Championship Player of the Season, PFA Fans’ Player of the Year, and a spot in both the EFL and PFA Team of the Year.
He carried his goalscoring prowess into the Premier League, scoring six times in his first five matches and winning the August 2019 Player of the Month award.
Although he couldn’t maintain such an electrifying scoring rate, he still managed 11 goals as Norwich were relegated back to the Championship.
Back in the second tier, Pukki continued his prolific form, scoring 26 times as Norwich reclaimed the Championship title. Once again, he was named in the EFL and PFA Team of the Season.
The following season mirrored Norwich’s previous Premier League struggles, with the Canaries suffering relegation under Dean Smith. Pukki still managed 11 goals, but the club couldn’t avoid the drop.
In his third Championship campaign, the Finnish forward experienced a decline in his goalscoring output, managing only 10 goals before departing the club at the end of the season.
During his time at Norwich, Pukki scored 88 goals in 210 appearances, ranking as the club’s fourth-highest scorer—an incredible feat for a player signed on a free transfer.
Teemu Pukki: A Norwich City Legend
Pukki’s ability to score consistently in England’s top two divisions cements his status as Norwich City’s greatest bargain signing—and arguably one of the best in world football.
A delight to watch leading the line, he tormented defenders in both the Championship and Premier League with his intelligent movement and clinical finishing.
His reliability in front of goal played a massive role in Norwich’s multiple Premier League promotions, helping the club reap the financial benefits of competing at the highest level.
Norwich’s recruitment team struck gold by bringing Pukki to the club. Exceeding all expectations, he transformed himself into a Canaries icon—without costing the club a penny.
