Notts County bring in Norburn and Kouhyar

Oliver Norburn has been out since early April with a calf injury but is expected to return in early August.

Notts County have signed midfielder Oliver Norburn and Afghanistan international forward Maziar Kouhyar, both on one-year deals with the option of a further year.

Both players arrive at Meadow Lane as free agents this summer after Norburn left League One club Blackpool and Kouhyar departed National League side York City.

Managerless County have now made four summer signings following the arrivals of midfielder Tom Iorpenda and forward Matthew Dennis.

Norburn, 32, made 52 appearances for the Tangerines after signing from Peterborough in 2023 and spent the second half of last season on loan at Wigan Athletic.

The central midfielder came through the academies at Chelsea and Leicester before spells with League Two sides Bristol Rovers and Plymouth Argyle, and National League outfits Guiseley, Macclesfield and Tranmere Rovers.

Norburn then spent three seasons with League One side Shrewsbury Town before joining Peterborough in the Championship.

"I've been an admirer of Oliver's for many years having tried to sign him for Portsmouth in 2021," County's head of football Roberto Gagliardi told the club website.

"We need players of Ollie's character, experience and quality in key areas of the pitch if we're to achieve our short-term objectives and we know he's going to be a hugely influential figure for us."

Maziar Kouhyar has won 10 caps for Afghanistan

Kouhyar became the first Afghanistan-born player to play professionally in Britain when he joined Walsall in League One in 2015.

After picking up a serious injury with the Saddlers, the 27-year-old had spells with Hereford and York before his 13-goal haul on loan helped Kidderminster to last season's National League North play-off semi-finals.

"Throughout his life and career, Maziar has shown incredible courage, spirit and determination – and we're delighted to give him another shot at EFL football," said Gagliardi.