Norwich City rejected Wolves star for reason that looks incredible now | OneFootball

Norwich City rejected the chance to sign Fer Lopez and he now looks incredible for Championship rivals Wolves

Norwich City will be aiming to compete for promotion to the Premier League this season after a strong end to the previous campaign.

The Canaries narrowly missed out on a play-off place, finishing ninth, just eight points adrift of the top six under Philippe Clement.

The Belgian oversaw a rise up the table after taking over in November 2025 after the team endured a tough start to the term.

But they will face stiff competition in the battle for a top eight finish this season, especially with the likes of Wolves, Burnley and West Ham coming down from the Premier League.

Norwich City’s Fer Lopez decision

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One player that’s made a strong impression in the opening weeks of the new season is Fer Lopez with Wolves.

However, Norwich supporters will be disappointed to learn that he spent time in the club’s academy system when he was a teenager.

The 22-year-old lived in Norfolk when he was 14, and during that time he trained in the Canaries’ academy.

But the Championship side turned down the opportunity to keep him on a permanent basis, with Sky Sports claiming that there were concerns regarding his size.

Norwich believed he was too small, despite impressing during his additional training against grown men at non-league side Bacton United ‘89.

Fer Lopez verdict at 14

Despite not earning a permanent stay at Norwich, Lopez still received rave reviews for his performances at a non-league level.

Ryan Owens was first-team coach at Bacton, and he was effusive in his praise of the Spaniard, describing him as “different gravy.”

Owens’ friend Paul Grainger went further in his estimation of the then teenager, saying: "I have seen some of the best players in the world play football.

“I have never seen a footballer like him.

“He was literally incredible.

"From the first day, I knew he was going to be a superstar."

Fer Lopez’s impressive start to life in the Championship

Lopez ultimately went through the Celta Vigo academy system, breaking into the first team squad in 2024/25, making a total of 17 La Liga appearances before signing for Wolves.

It didn’t start out too well for the forward at Molineux, and he went back on loan to Celta Vigo last January in a bid to get more regular game time.

But the 22-year-old has made a strong start to life in the Championship this season, scoring two and assisting one from the first two fixtures.

The Spaniard opened the scoring against Preston North End, and capped off the victory with an 82nd minute strike to secure a brace, while his assist helped earn a point against Blackburn Rovers.

It is still early days, but if he can continue to be productive, then he could prove quite decisive in Wolves’ bid to win promotion.

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Norwich are missing Fer Lopez now

Meanwhile, Norwich have struggled with the start of the new season, with Clement’s side only avoiding bottom spot due to Southampton’s four point deduction penalty.

The Canaries came into the campaign expecting big things, but defeats to West Brom and Millwall have brought the club back down to Earth.

One goal from 180 minutes of football, and six conceded, doesn’t bode well, and fans will be wondering what the team could achieve if Lopez had been kept.

While Clement's side have Mo Touré to depend on for goals, having another strong attacking outlet could take the pressure off him, which he may need after settling into life in English football.

It’s especially damning for Norwich that they deemed him to be too small, but the 14-year-old they oversaw had a big growth spurt and he now stands at six foot two inches tall.

If he has a successful season with Wolves this year, then Norwich will only have themselves to blame for missing out on his talents.