Norwich City have reached an agreement to sign highly-rated midfielder Reece Wilkes from League Two side Fleetwood Town, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
With new manager Liam Manning now in charge following his move from Bristol City to replace Johannes Hoff Thorup, the Canaries are looking to refresh the squad. While first-team reinforcements are a priority, there is also a strong focus on investing in future stars.
O’Rourke reports that Norwich have secured the services of 16-year-old Wilkes, who has caught the eye with his performances for Fleetwood during the 2024/25 campaign—particularly in the EFL Trophy. The England youth international, who has been with Fleetwood for nearly a decade, appears ready to take the next step in his career by heading to East Anglia, having already played for his country at the U15 level.
Norwich’s track record of developing young talent should give Wilkes encouragement. The likes of Jacob and Josh Murphy, along with Todd Cantwell, have all risen through the ranks at Carrow Road and gone on to have successful careers, both for the club and beyond.
Wilkes will be aiming to emulate recent signings Gabriel Forsyth and Oscar Schwartau—young midfielders who joined from Hamilton Academical and Brøndby, respectively—and together made 50 appearances last season.
Following a disappointing 13th-place finish in the 2024/25 season, Norwich are hoping to turn a new leaf under Manning’s leadership. The addition of a talent like Wilkes signals their long-term ambition.
Though Wilkes will need time to adapt and grow, he will benefit from being around experienced professionals such as Kenny McLean and Marcelino Nunez. His development will be carefully managed by the club’s academy and senior coaching teams, as Norwich continue to build for a more promising future.
