Marseille sign Norwich winger Rowe

Jonathan Rowe, wearing Norwich's home yellow and green kit, smiles and holds his arms out while celebrating a goalImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Jonathan Rowe scored 13 goals for Norwich last season

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Marseille have signed Norwich City winger Jonathan Rowe on a season-long loan deal with an obligation to buy.

BBC Sport understands the deal for the 21-year-old is worth £17m in total, with Norwich also including a sell-on clause.

Marseille had previous bids rejected for the England Under-21 international but he will now join former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi in the south of France.

Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup said this month Rowe had declined to play in their 2-0 opening-day defeat at Oxford amid interest from the Ligue 1 club.

“Jonny was a player we were keen to have as an asset in our squad for the season and years ahead," sporting director Ben Knapper told the club website., external

"Whilst we were disappointed in the way in which certain things have played out in recent weeks, I’m pleased that we’ve been able to act quickly and efficiently to ensure that the club has received the best possible deal, and we can move on in a positive direction."

Rowe had been training with the club's under-21s and did not feature in Norwich's Carabao Cup win over Stevenage or the 2-2 Championship draw with Blackburn.

He came through the club's academy and scored 13 goals in 38 appearances last season as the Canaries lost to Leeds in the Championship play-off semi-final.

His departure comes after forward Abu Kamara, 21, who is wanted by Portsmouth, handed in a transfer request this week, while the Canaries have also sold striker Adam Idah to Celtic.