Norwich City told they are “absolutely right” to keep player – Rangers have had long-standing interest
Kenny McLean, one of Norwich City’s most seasoned players, was retained for the 2025–26 Championship season. The 2025 summer transfer window is now over, and one of the most basic realities of any transfer window is that keeping the players you want to keep can sometimes be just as crucial as adding new players.
With two victories and two losses from their first four games of the season, Norwich has had a mixed start. The decision to retain midfielder Kenny McLean may prove to be just as important as the headlines created by their new additions and Josh Sargent’s decision to remain at Carrow Road. They added players on transfer deadline day, increasing their total number of players this summer to twelve.
The 33-year-old had been linked with a possible move to Rangers, the club which he supports and where he started his youth career. But for all the gossip, that move didn’t happen, even though McLean only has a year to run on his contract at Carrow Road.
“Absolutely the right decision” – Kenny McLean praised as he stays at Norwich City
Zeke Downes, our Norwich City fan commentator, was interviewed by Football League World over the decision to retain McLean at the team. Zeke is overjoyed that the midfield player would be remaining, saying, “It was absolutely the right decision to keep McLean, especially now we’ve lost Nunez.” McLean provides a great deal of leadership, and the last two games were much better when he was on the pitch.
Zeke thinks that McLean has lots to give Norwich this season, including his substantial experience and a degree of versatility: “He is a good servant, and he’s got a lot of experience, so it’s absolutely the right choice to keep him. He can, of course, also play left-back if necessary.
And while McLean may not be a regular starter for the Canaries this season, Zeke feels that McLean has qualities which will benefit the club just from him being around: “He might not start every game, but just to have him in the squad is going to be really useful. Even if he ends up running down his contract for nothing, I think that’s a much better option.”
Kenny McLean’s decision to stay with Norwich will benefit the club in more ways than one
There was a lot of speculation that Kenny McLean may be moving to Ibrox at the end of the summer transfer window because Wrexham was reportedly interested in him as well. The Scotland international put an end to rumours that Rangers had long been interested in recruiting him by signing a contract extension with Norwich in October of last year.
But after Norwich’s win at Blackburn, manager Liam Manning said: “I’ve had some really good chats with Kenny, and made it quite clear what I think of him and how I see him.
“He’s a really important part of what we’re trying to do here.”
All of that indicated that a departure was far from a foregone conclusion. Transfer deadline day came and went without McLean leaving the club, so Manning’s conversation with the player clearly had the desired effect.
McLean, who is currently 33, initially joined Norwich City from Aberdeen in January 2018 after spending the second part of the 2017–18 campaign on loan at the Dons. He has, however, established himself as a mainstay of the Norwich squad in the seven years that have followed, making 243 league appearances for the Canaries in both the Premier League and the Championship.
McLean’s role will undoubtedly evolve as his career into its autumnal years, and the impact he has and the example he sets for younger players will be crucial in the Carrow Road area. Ten of the 30 players on Norwich’s current first team roster are 21 years of age or younger, and younger players frequently look to the management and coaching staff, as well as senior players, for direction and role models.
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