Stephens delighted to head north of the border as his five-year stay in Norfolk comes to an end

City starlet David Stephens has revealed his delight after securing a move north of the border to join Hibernian on a three-year-deal.

The Edinburgh club agreed terms with Paul Lambert’s Canaries yesterday and international clearance for the move is expected to be rubber-stamped in the coming days.

And centre-back Stephens – who only made one first-team appearance as a substitute for City – is more than happy to secure his immediate future at Easter Road.

“I am really pleased to have agreed a move to Hibernian; it is an ambitious club with top-class training facilities and a first class stadium,” said the 18-year-old defender, who ended last season on loan at Chris Sutton’s Lincoln.

“I’m still learning my trade at the moment, but Hibernian has a track record of promoting young players into the first-team and this was a great attraction for me.

“I’m confident that when I do get an opportunity I will seize my chance.  I’m excited to be here and especially so given that the opening Europa League match is only a few weeks away.

“It is a big move for me and I’ve been really impressed with the club and with Edinburgh; it seems like a great place to live and I just want to achieve all my goals at Hibernian.”

The move will come as a surprise to some Canary observers, with Stephens earning rave reviews for his Academy and reserve-team performances. 

But City boss Lambert has obviously decided to let the Hertfordshire-born player seek pastures new, and it will be interesting to see how Stephens’ career progresses in the SPL.

Hibees boss John Hughes is clearly a fan, however, and he was delighted to snap up the 6ft 4in centre-back, with other clubs thought to be sniffing around the man who joined the Norwich Academy at the age of 14.

“David is a player with tremendous potential – he already has a good physical presence and appears much more mature than his age would suggest,” he told The Scotsman newspaper.

“I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen from him so far and I’m sure he will have a part to play at first-team level over the course of the season ahead.

“David has also got international experience with Wales at Under-17 and Under-19 level and has all the attributes to be a success here at Hibernian.”