Exclusive: Notts County make transfer breakthrough for Blackpool FC midfielder | OneFootball

Notts County have completed a deal for Blackpool midfielder Ollie Norburn, FLW understands.

Notts County have agreed a deal to sign Blackpool midfielder Ollie Norburn on a free transfer, Football League World has exclusively been informed.

The Magpies have already kick-started their summer of recruitment with the season-long loan signing of Huddersfield Town midfielder Tom Iorpenda, and the free agent acquisition of Carlisle United striker, Matthew Dennis respectively.

County remain managerless after sacking Stuart Maynard last month following the club's League Two play-off semi-final defeat to AFC Wimbledon.

Notts County agree free transfer for Blackpool star Ollie Norburn

Football League World has exclusively been informed that Notts County have agreed to sign Blackpool midfielder Ollie Norburn on a free transfer.

The 32-year-old central midfielder signed for the Tangerines in the summer of 2023, joining from Peterborough United.

After 18 months at Bloomfield Road, Norburn put pen to paper on a short-term loan move to Wigan Athletic in January, signing with the Latics for the second half of the 2024/25 season.

He quickly became an important member of first Shaun Maloney and then briefly Ryan Lowe's side, but he missed the final eight league games of the season because of an Achilles problem.

Lowe has confirmed that Norburn will remain with Wigan to continue his rehab for an unspecified amount of time this summer, so he can have the best chance of arriving at his new club fully fit and ready to go.

It was confirmed in Blackpool's 2024/25 retained list that Norburn would be leaving the club at the expiration of his contract, and it's now our understanding that Notts County have swooped in to secure the signature of the experienced midfielder.

Ollie Norburn looks a shrewd signing for Notts County

Every dressing room requires a handful of players with experience, knowledge and know-how: Norburn ticks all of those boxes for Notts County.

A product of Leicester City's academy system, he began his senior career all the way back in 2011, and has racked up vast amounts of EFL experience along the way.

Norburn has represented clubs such as Bristol Rovers, Plymouth Argyle, Shrewsbury Town and Tranmere Rovers respectively, whilst also making a handful of caps for his national team, Grenada.

The soon-to-be County man has collected just shy of 170 League One appearances during his career, as well as 70 in League Two and 36 in the Championship, per Transfermarkt.

Having exclusively played at League One level or higher since the 2018/19 season, Norburn, should he stay fit, looks to have every chance of being a classy midfield player at League Two level.

Therefore, especially on a free transfer, County look to have made a highly shrewd addition with the free agent signing of Norburn this summer.