Seasons » 2015-16 » Everton News
Naismith completes Norwich switch


The Scottish international makes a switch from Goodison Park that appeared to be imminent at the turn of the year after a deal was reported to have been agreed between the two clubs.
A knock to Naismith's ankle, Roberto Martinez's desire to keep numbers available during a hectic first half of January and the player's own need to make up his mind are all believed to have contributed to the delay in the transfer but he has now finalised the transfer.
He passed a medical and agreed personal terms with the East Anglian club yesterday and has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Canaries.
“Where I was in my career, the age I am and the way the first half of the season has gone for me, I had to think a lot about the future,” Naismith said after tying up his move to Norwich.
“When January came, it was a case of knowing exactly where I stood and the manager at Everton was good and said that he’d listen to whatever I wanted.
“Norwich have displayed class in the way they’ve done their business all the way through, and they’ve been very persistent.
“They’ve been fantastic in the sense of showing how much they wanted me, and I’m delighted to be here.”
Naismith arrived at Everton as a free agent in 2012, signed by David Moyes amid the chaos at former club Rangers which eventually led to the Scottish giants being liquidated and reformed as a "newco" that year.
He initially struggled to make an initial impact with the Blues under Moyes who tended to play him in an unfamiliar right-midfield role but he flourished a a second striker behind Romelu Lukaku in Roberto Martinez's first season in charge.
Naismith continued to be an important member of the team throughout Martinez's difficult second season, weighing in with important goals in big games in the Premier and Europa Leagues and enhancing his reputation as one of the most natural finishers at the club, while his off-field philanthropy earned him deserved recognition on Merseyside and back in Glasgow.
He began to fall out of favour towards the end of 2014-15, however, as the manager turned increasingly to fit-again Arouna Kone and Naismith made just four Premier League starts this season despite scoring a memorable hat-trick against Chelsea in September.
He joins the Canaries with the hope of getting regular first-team action and helping them avoid relegation this season.
Reader Comments (134)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
2 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:11:12
3 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:13:03
4 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:13:29
5 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:18:53
We need this type of 'get at them' player with 100% grit and determination. We've had Big Dunc, Timmy Cahill and Naismith... now Besic looks like our next nark. If we don't get another striker in and Big Rom gets injured, we are right in the klartz with Kone.
6 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:19:27
Will always be remembered for the constant work ethic and nuisance factor.
I thank you for the goals in all the big game's against Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.
You have been unfairly treated since scoring that hat-trick against Chelsea in September and grossly underused at time's.
I wish you all the best at Norwich, a decent club for you in a nice part of the country, enjoy it and make a mark in your debut against Liverpool on Saturday for the Canaries..
7 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:28:39
A great weekend for the Canaries but not the Swans.
8 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:32:02
Perhaps Tarashaj will be that player next season or Mirallas will get a run. I'm still keen on Yarmolenko another Tadic, Eriksen, Pienaar like player.
9 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:45:22
I thought reading between the lines Martinez wanted him at Everton to see out this busy period but obviously he was never going to play Naismith anyway with a move in the pipeline so it's more difficult to work out jargon from Roberto.
We must replace Naismith this month, cannot rely on just Kone and Lukaku.
10 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:50:36
I wish him all the best and hope that he enjoys his football at Norwich and stays injury free.
I am assuming that the fee for a 29-year-old player was just too good to turn down; otherwise, I would have loved for him to have stayed with us.
11 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:51:49
I think he will score a decent amount of goals if he is played in his proper position striker.
12 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:52:06
13 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:54:27
He will want the deal done soonest so he has time to bring in a replacement, I would have thought. Or rather, I would have hoped.
With all due respect to Naismith though, if our chances of reaching the final rested on him, then I'd be more worried than I already am about the second leg.
14 Posted 18/01/2016 at 17:02:30
A good bit of business as this sale has paid for Byram, Foulds and Tarashaj with £1.5 million left over.
Bless you, Naisy. Wish you all the best. Thank you.
15 Posted 18/01/2016 at 17:21:09
Thanks and good luck Steven. Good pro, good footballer, seems like a good bloke. Not what we need if we're looking to progress and not likely to improve. A pleasant change for us to actually sell a player we don't need while we can get good money for him.
17 Posted 18/01/2016 at 17:24:14
Always thought he killed plays at times by going to ground trying to draw a whistle instead of just getting on with it, but liked his in your face attitude versus the big boys. Shame we couldn't combine him and Mirallas into one tireless goal scoring player.
18 Posted 18/01/2016 at 17:33:36
I hear what you are saying about not pinning our Cup Final hopes on Naismith but picture this, if Lukaku limps off after 20 minutes next Wednesday night at the Etihad, you bring on one man, the totally jaded looking Arouna Kone.
I'd much rather fancy our chances of nicking the goal with Naismith on the pitch rather than Kone.
It may never happen, Lukaku could remain fit and strong all season but it's a huge risk that potentially damages our season further if we don't bring in a replacement.
19 Posted 18/01/2016 at 17:37:50
But that's not the Everton way anymore. Drawn out for the Sky Sports viewers pleasure.
20 Posted 18/01/2016 at 17:38:32
£8.5m for Naismith shows how bonkers the leagues become. Great business for the club, about £5m net in the bank after the Byram lad's signing.
With this done, I can see Mirallas staying until the summer, which is good news (assuming he gets on the pitch regularly...).
Now where's that new goalie...
21 Posted 18/01/2016 at 17:41:01
Also Barkley reckons himself as a striker...
22 Posted 18/01/2016 at 17:47:00
On a side issue, none of the three officials from Stamford Bridge are to be sin-binned as they each take their place in various stadiums. The Echo reports that:
"The Chester ref will take charge of Manchester United's home game with Southampton on Saturday. And Jones's assistant referees from Stamford Bridge Mike Mullarkey and Peter Kirkup are also in action this weekend. Mullarkey will be part of the officiating team at Selhurst Park for Crystal Palace v Spurs while Kirkup will run the line at Watford v Newcastle."
23 Posted 18/01/2016 at 17:48:34
24 Posted 18/01/2016 at 17:48:38
It's a decent fee but I would be keeping Naismith until at least the summer.
25 Posted 18/01/2016 at 17:53:25
26 Posted 18/01/2016 at 18:07:18
Mixed feelings about Nais going... yes it's decent money, but still think he has something that we don't have in other players. While not the most gifted, he is a canny lad and knows where and when to show up in the box, plus he has that "narky" attitude which we sometimes lack.
Good luck Steven, your work has been appreciated if at times you have been underutilised and you'll receive a warm welcome when you return...
27 Posted 18/01/2016 at 18:13:10
We have no effective cover for Rom now, God help us. Martinez should be leaving, not Steven Naismith. Good luck to him and it's almost certain he'll come back to haunt us by scoring the winner against us.
28 Posted 18/01/2016 at 18:21:19
29 Posted 18/01/2016 at 18:31:47
30 Posted 18/01/2016 at 18:40:29
Naismith is one of the good guys (albeit one of the few snides we possess, who's left, just Besic?) maximises his abilities and deserves to play behind the striker every week. We've got a diamond called Ross Barkley in that role and with Rom on his own upfront there's no other vacancy. Ridiculously he isn't even back up striker over Kone, so best for all he moves on. Will be fondly remembered.
31 Posted 18/01/2016 at 19:36:47
33 Posted 18/01/2016 at 19:46:41
I am uncomfortable with Kone being in front of Naismith in the pecking order so I will assume Martinez will be using this money to go for a Yarmolenko, Tielemans or Praet. If we don't bring in such a signing I will take a completely difference view on this as Kone is simply a joke. His 'cold legs' twitter brainfart were an embarrassment not on just him, but the club as well. There would be a buyer for Kone, there always is one we have sold worse.
35 Posted 18/01/2016 at 20:49:02
36 Posted 18/01/2016 at 20:49:06
37 Posted 18/01/2016 at 21:28:58
38 Posted 18/01/2016 at 23:09:55
I was watching the game on a link from Canada and the commentator said he could understand Evertonians being unhappy with the league table position, but what a great young, exciting team to watch, with such great promise for the future. I agree.
39 Posted 18/01/2016 at 23:31:38
MIrallas proved against Chelsea that he is also very good in the box. We definitely can't afford to loose him now.
40 Posted 18/01/2016 at 23:53:22
When the time comes, I believe he has earned himself one of those roles at Goodison occupied by other folklore heroes.
In the meantime best to him.
41 Posted 18/01/2016 at 23:58:00
42 Posted 18/01/2016 at 23:58:41
£8.5M is fantastic money, it will secure a player of similar quality from a championship club or one of the decent European league such as Germany or something who is younger with the potential to grow and develop beyond Naismith.
A nice man and a genuinely honest professional, he will be well suited to Norwich as he will undoubtedly help keep them up with his endeavours.
I've noticed a few people commenting on the fact we are selling Naismith and keeping Kone, but the fact is we have an £8.5M deal on the table for Naismith and nothing for Kone.
I've said it before on here and I'm happy to repeat it: Naismith, Kone, Howard, Hibbert, Gibson, Pienaar, Osman and possibly Oviedo should be told to find another club to pay them. Most of them are either over the hill or simply don't play enough games.
I'd estimate the above players cost us around £250k a week, £1M a month and V12M a year to sit on our bench or injury table Think what that money can do for us , we clearly do not have big funds, the above money would breath new life into our squad, allowing a fresh new crop of players into the mix, making it a healthy but competitive place to play and train.
Players like Cleverley, Besic and Deulofeu should be found and brought into the club to replace the dead wood, costing small amounts of money and allowing us to save funds for a marquee signing.
Liverpool picked up Milner and Toure on frees, Leicester picked up Marez for £750k, Swansea got Andre Anew on a free and Jefferson Montero for £3M, Watford signed Ighalo for less than £3M plus Nathen Aki for a little over £1M, Spurs Deli Alli for £4M-odd and Eric Dier for £3M odd... etc.
Clearly some are better than others, and we don't need certain players listed, also there may be better examples out there too.
This all goes to show the players are out there to improve and shake up our squad with the funds saved by trimming the dead wood from our squad.
43 Posted 19/01/2016 at 00:49:59
44 Posted 19/01/2016 at 04:16:00
45 Posted 19/01/2016 at 05:11:44
Top role model and he's been a valuable squad player. I'm sure he goes with the best wishes of all Evertonians, which is no small achievement.
If we're honest, a player of his ability has to struggle to get into our first team or we're going nowhere.
46 Posted 19/01/2016 at 06:14:35
£8.5m for him is a cracking bit of business by Everton.
47 Posted 19/01/2016 at 07:07:10
48 Posted 19/01/2016 at 07:24:55
50 Posted 19/01/2016 at 13:16:30
What's interesting is RM wouldn't let him go during the last window and has intimated that the squad will be stronger at the end of this window. His job may depend on that being true, so hopefully there may be incoming in the pipe.
51 Posted 19/01/2016 at 13:47:05
Naismith is a superb sub. He gives us tactical flexibility (not that Roberto always uses it) and he is a goalgetter. Always a good sub to play as a second striker if you are behind. Even if you are defending a lead, he could be a useful sub because of his work rate and defensive headers. We would still have three years left in his machine.
Not sure we will find a replacement at a decent price, who would accept our wage structure, and accept to be a squad player (which Nessi in the end did not accept either... but at least he never moaned).
52 Posted 19/01/2016 at 13:49:40
On 15th May, he will get a thoroughly deserved hero's welcome at Goodison.
53 Posted 19/01/2016 at 13:58:25
54 Posted 19/01/2016 at 14:08:32
55 Posted 19/01/2016 at 15:12:12
You're assuming that Mirallas will get the nod ahead of: Osman, Cleverley and Kone out of position, which I suspect he won't.
56 Posted 19/01/2016 at 16:53:50
Sad to see the lad go, I believe there's a worse player getting a start before Naismith. Kone is Championship at best, as is our manager.
57 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:10:42
You were a pleasure to have around and a credit to our great club.
58 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:11:06
If Lukaku gets injured that's leaves us with Kone and Mirallas as our only options, and that combination didn't look that great against Dagenham and Redbridge.
Top guy he was though and totally committed always!
Good luck Naisy
59 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:11:16
All EFC fans wish you the very best. You served the local community brilliantly as well.
60 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:14:31
Always liked Naismith but fantastic getting ٦.5M for the guy, personally I would use the money to bring Jordan Rhodes in.
61 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:17:38
63 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:19:52
64 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:20:00
65 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:24:01
66 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:25:30
67 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:25:31
68 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:26:22
69 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:26:53
Steven was always a stop gap for the way The Incredible One wants the team to play football I guess. Fantastic attitude when picked and the same when not even in the squad.
Also well known for being a very considerate person off the pitch, these type of people are to find these days. I wish you good luck and good health and look forward to you receiving a great reception when you return to Goodison.
70 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:31:06
71 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:33:30
72 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:34:53
73 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:42:54
74 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:43:44
Best of luck, Nais! Norwich is a good club for you, and thanks for your time with us, you always gave your all!
75 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:46:22
Good business for Naismith but only if he spends the money wisely, if at all, this January.
76 Posted 19/01/2016 at 17:53:46
77 Posted 19/01/2016 at 18:14:39
So in Nessy's case he's been asked to play midfield, wide as a false centre-forward, in fact every position except the bleedin obvious one.
Good luck, Nessy and thanks for the goals anyone that calls him limited should study his movement and his hat-trick v Chavs, and before anyone says he didn't do it enough, he wasn't given enough game tome to do it.
Hope and expect he'll get a standing ovation when he comes back.
78 Posted 19/01/2016 at 18:15:55
79 Posted 19/01/2016 at 18:18:48
80 Posted 19/01/2016 at 18:20:09
I hope he helps the Canaries, especially in their upcoming game against the RS. Good luck, Nessie!
81 Posted 19/01/2016 at 18:22:49
The hat-trick against Chelsea epitomised his style of play and I'm sure he'll do well at Norwich; I can only wish him well. There's plenty of dead wood left in the squad who won't attract any interest in this or any other window, but he's not in that category...
82 Posted 19/01/2016 at 18:23:14
83 Posted 19/01/2016 at 18:26:26
It's been an education and a pleasure to call him a fellow Evertonian.
I hope he thoroughly enjoys the rest of his career, genuinely sorry to see such a top bloke leave.
84 Posted 19/01/2016 at 18:31:09
85 Posted 19/01/2016 at 18:32:21
86 Posted 19/01/2016 at 18:39:41
87 Posted 19/01/2016 at 19:00:42
But boy did he annoy me in that last Ireland vs Scotland international – but that's a kind of compliment in a way. Good business all round. Thanks Steven.
88 Posted 19/01/2016 at 19:03:00
Great guy. He will be sadly missed by many.
89 Posted 19/01/2016 at 19:07:49
I personally wanted to keep him but, if we use the money to bag a Yarmolenko, I will be pleased.
90 Posted 19/01/2016 at 19:10:20
91 Posted 19/01/2016 at 19:12:15
His character, on and off the pitch, embodies everything I want to see in an Everton player.
92 Posted 19/01/2016 at 19:17:04
Top bloke who will do his new club proud.
93 Posted 19/01/2016 at 19:27:31
94 Posted 19/01/2016 at 19:31:46
95 Posted 19/01/2016 at 19:54:12
96 Posted 19/01/2016 at 20:16:26
Don't you dare score against us, otherwise you will always be welcome.
97 Posted 19/01/2016 at 20:35:48
98 Posted 19/01/2016 at 20:47:09
Sadly we will see neither Naismith nor the ٦.5m received for him, no doubt we will snatch a loan signing and the money will be lost to "other operating costs", and so the cycle of mediocrity will continue.
99 Posted 19/01/2016 at 21:51:09
Best of luck Naisy knock a couple in for us against the red shite this weekend. All the best for the future, just not against us... A good reception awaits you when you return.
100 Posted 19/01/2016 at 22:19:30
101 Posted 19/01/2016 at 23:00:21
102 Posted 19/01/2016 at 23:01:57
I'm actually rather sad. Don't know if training sessions are making RM prefer Kone etc... but I feel he could still offer us something. Good business but as a squad player I think he'll be hard to replace.
I hope you get an absolute hat-full of goals for Norwich and I'll be giving you a true hero's welcome when you come back to the Old Lady! Take care, Steven a true throwback to a better time for Everton I think we'll miss you!
103 Posted 19/01/2016 at 23:06:24
Thanks Steven! Wish you all the best!
104 Posted 19/01/2016 at 23:06:31
An all round good egg and imo a canny and effective player only lacking a decent touch (his brain, Mirallas's ability, what a player that would be). A good buy for Norwich, personally I'd have kept him.
105 Posted 19/01/2016 at 23:11:37
I'll miss him, but can't deny it was a good piece of business for the club. Let's hope it's not the last in tis window.
106 Posted 19/01/2016 at 23:19:56
How many times did I read about him doing work in the community, volunteering, providing financial assistance to folks in need? A hell of a lot.
In a day and age where the athlete works his trade specifically to extract as much as he can for himself, we had a golden human being who looked to give back.
I hope he does fantastically moving forward.
107 Posted 19/01/2016 at 23:39:45
I am a bit concerned that a squad that generally seems to lack fight and resilience is losing a player with an abundance of both.
108 Posted 20/01/2016 at 02:04:34
At 16:45, Norwich City announce the signing of Naismith, The Echo has the story some 10 minutes later with stock photo and all, even the Guardian website has the story. The Official Site nothing... the site is not even available until 28 minutes later - just white space!!!! Not even a holding page. For comparison, when was the last time you saw ToffeeWeb down without a holding page?
Now I appreciate that this is perhaps of small import, but in a world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Web Presence and News/ Rumour compilation sites, how can EFC one of the two involved parties, be 30 minutes late in breaking the story? How can the opportunity to raise the site profile be missed like this? Have EFC heard of affiliate marketing?? Click Revenue???
109 Posted 20/01/2016 at 02:48:23
Perhaps Everton were just honouring an unwritten agreement to allow Norwich, as the buying club, break the news?
Next time Everton buy a player, you should check the selling club's website to see if any time difference versus EFC.com in the story being reported.
110 Posted 20/01/2016 at 04:12:59
111 Posted 20/01/2016 at 06:32:23
112 Posted 20/01/2016 at 06:39:02
113 Posted 20/01/2016 at 07:30:54
Good luck to him I hope he becomes as popular there as he has been here. He will be missed
114 Posted 20/01/2016 at 07:39:59
If this is true then Martinez deserves the Nobel prize for economics and even his most ardent detractors will have to admit that the guy is a miracle worker!
115 Posted 20/01/2016 at 09:44:06
116 Posted 20/01/2016 at 10:00:12
117 Posted 20/01/2016 at 10:38:11
I'm looking mainly in the direction of Darryl @ 106 who will likely be reading this thread through teary eyes.
118 Posted 20/01/2016 at 12:28:04
Good luck. A great pro and an all round decent guy. If everyone in football was like him the game would be better for it. Respect.
119 Posted 20/01/2016 at 12:57:52
120 Posted 20/01/2016 at 13:39:35
121 Posted 20/01/2016 at 13:57:33
Good luck to him, I genuinely hope it works out. All the best. He got Everton, and that's what matters to us. He will get a warm welcome from me when he returns.
122 Posted 20/01/2016 at 14:23:33
123 Posted 20/01/2016 at 14:31:30
What now though? If Rom picks up an injury, we are solely relying on Kone. Would Mirallas really work there? Are Rodriguez, Henen or anyone else ready? Who is out there for us to sign, if indeed this is the plan. Southampton have picked up the guys from QPR, any ideas???
124 Posted 20/01/2016 at 15:55:25
He probably would've made an impact sooner if it wasn't for that wasted year under Moyes on the right wing.
He'll always have a special place in the hearts of the Goodison faithful thanks to his tireless industry on the pitch and his admirable charity work off it.
We got a good price for him though so considering we never replaced Eto'o last January, let's hope Roberto has someone decent lined up to come in and provide an immediate boost to the squad!
125 Posted 20/01/2016 at 16:39:34
126 Posted 20/01/2016 at 17:40:09
I do think it's right to move him on, though, especially as he was never going to get a game up front which is the only position he was any use in.
127 Posted 20/01/2016 at 19:38:56
He was also down to earth. And his tickets for the homeless showed the character of the man. I wish him all the best at Norwich. Just hope he is injured for our home game against them as he will probably get a goal knowing our luck.
128 Posted 20/01/2016 at 20:00:31
No, not a VLS fan, I'm afraid, and certainly not 'too cool for school'. My attendance was exemplary, in fact.
Bit rich of you to accuse anyone of attempting to be a comedian, I might add.
I too have wished Naismith well, but he's not an Everton hero nor is this transfer the worst bit of business ever, as described by Geoff (#110).
129 Posted 20/01/2016 at 20:24:52
130 Posted 20/01/2016 at 22:26:43
So we don't thank him for his efforts at the club then? Personally I loved his attitude when he played. In my view in the Tim Cahill mode. Got stuck in, got in the faces of defenders, and could out jump taller defenders. And the column in the Echo was spot on. His goals post Xmas were instrumental in us getting in to Europe.
131 Posted 20/01/2016 at 22:33:23
I wish him every success in the future, and hopehe gets a hat-trick on Saturday, if he plays, who would that be against?
132 Posted 20/01/2016 at 22:53:22
A comedian?
Sorry but nowhere did I even get close to accusing you of 'attempting to be a comedian' (do you think VLS is a comedian?)
I was simply pointing out that your post read like contrary-for-the-sake-of-it, Kevin the teenager-style shite (because it did).
Your 'opinion' (as in 'I'm entitled to me...') that the tone and/or content of this thread (basically 'good luck Steven, you were alright') is 'fawning overreaction' is obvious bollocks.
133 Posted 21/01/2016 at 11:52:37
Wonder if his replacement will help the homeless and buy tickets for the poor and disadvantaged.
134 Posted 22/01/2016 at 04:32:35
135 Posted 22/01/2016 at 14:03:52
Naismith an Evertonian to the bitter end.
136 Posted 22/01/2016 at 14:22:57
137 Posted 23/01/2016 at 13:29:00
138 Posted 23/01/2016 at 17:43:13
Heartbreaking loss for them, but what a game... and what a performance by Nais.
139 Posted 23/01/2016 at 19:29:58
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
1 Posted 18/01/2016 at 16:11:04
Never quite made the grade here, but a lot of that's due to this ridiculous predilection we have with playing players out of position, just to fit them into the team.
Give Naismith the ball at his feet inside the box, facing the goal, and he's a consummate finisher; the best we have in a tight space.
But we've have insisted playing him either on the wing, out of place in midfield or clearly instructed to track back and cover behind the full backs!
No small wonder then that he's not made as big an impact as he might have done and wishes to move on.
I'm sure he will go with all our best wishes.
He never gives less than 100% and can be a bit of a nark too, which is something we are short of in this 'after you Claude' team of ours.
If Norwich use him properly, he might just give them some much-neded punch up front and save them from the drop.