Norwich City struck gold with Argentina star transfer - He made the Canaries serious cash | OneFootball

Buendia’s 2018 arrival sparked a Norwich revolution, driving promotion, profit, and legacy from a £1.5m masterstroke.

The summer of 2018 marked a turning point for Norwich City, with summer signing Emiliano Buendia arriving from Getafe, who proved pivotal in their immediate Championship success.

A relatively unknown figure upon arrival, Buendia was secured for a reported fee of £1.5 million in a bargain deal that would become one of the most inspired pieces of business in recent Norwich history.

Buendia's signing was a risk. However, Norwich had done their homework. What followed was a superb rise for both player and club.

Buendia's Norwich arrival sparked a Championship transformation

Daniel Farke's side kicked off the 2018/19 campaign viewed as one of several outsiders in a competitive Championship pack. Among the many gambles taken by the club throughout the summer transfer window, Buendia was one of them.

By winter, the Argentine had become essential. Linking up alongside a youthful cast including Max Aarons, Jamal Lewis, Todd Cantwell, and a Championship goalscoring machine in Teemu Pukki, the little magician was central to the fluid, high-tempo attacking football that became synonymous with Norwich under Farke.

Buendia began to dazzle as the Canaries shifted through the gears towards promotion.

A magician in midfield: Buendia's 2018/19 impact defined a title-winning season

In his first Championship season, Buendía recorded 8 goals and 12 assists in 38 league appearances, numbers that only begin to tell the story of his influence.

It was the way he operated in between the lines, his tenacity off the ball, and the vision to find pockets of space in tight situations that elevated Norwich’s attack.

By April 2019, Norwich had secured automatic promotion. Their style of play and attacking quality drew comparisons to the best football the division had seen in years. And at the centre of it all was Buendia, a player who had become a cult figure in Norfolk.

Premier League struggles and the Buendia dilemma

Despite flashes of brilliance, Norwich’s 2019/20 Premier League campaign ended in relegation. But Buendia's stock only rose. Causing the summer of 2020 to bring speculation. Buendia, clearly Premier League quality, was expected to move on. But in a surprising twist, he stayed.

The result? Dominance.

Norwich tore apart the Championship once more during the 2020/21 campaign. Buendia reached new heights: 15 goals and 16 assists in 39 appearances. Farke’s side won the title with style, again. And again, Buendia was the heartbeat of everything positive in Canary yellow.

The inevitable departure—and a record-breaking sale

In June 2021, Norwich finally cashed in. Buendia joined Aston Villa for a club-record £33 million, a figure that not only ensured the club’s financial health post-COVID but also broke new ground for sales in East Anglia.

The fee was reinvested, with players like Milot Rashica, Christos Tzolis and Josh Sargent arriving that summer. But none could replicate the swagger and creativity of the man who had lit up Carrow Road for three seasons.

Emi Buendia left a lasting impact on Norwich City

Even as injuries and inconsistency have played a huge part in his inconsistent Villa career, Buendia’s time at Norwich remained untouchable.

Fans still talk about his huge performances in huge matches, his curling effort against Bristol City, and the way he telepathically linked with Pukki.

He was as much a symbol of Norwich’s footballing philosophy under Farke as he was a product of smart recruitment that has become synonymous with the Norwich of the modern era.