Coming through the youth ranks at Carrow Road, Rowe initially made his first-team debut in late 2021. However, he’d have to wait a further 20 months to really get his senior career going.
The man to give him that opportunity was David Wagner, the former Huddersfield Town boss, who divided opinion throughout the club’s support but did guide Rowe and his teammates to a play-off place and a shot at a potential return to the Premier League.
| Jon Rowe’s Norwich City statistics, as per Transfermarkt | |
|---|---|
| Statistic | Total |
| Games | 56 |
| Goals | 13 |
| Assists | 5 |
| YC’s | 7 |
| RC’s | 0 |
| Total Minutes Played | 2,666′ |
A heavy semi-final second-leg defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road put an end to that and the German was replaced by Dane Johannes Hoff Thorup over the summer.
21-year-old Rowe is one that will look back at Wagner’s one-year tenure with fondness, however, as the diminutive wide player had a very profitable campaign, making the bulk of his 56 appearances for the club during a 2023/24 season that shone a light on the talent and potential the Westminster-born youngster had.
This led to summer speculation around the players’ future, with the Eastern Daily Press reporting interest from Premier League clubs, Championship rivals, and French top-flight side Marseille.
Rowe ultimately joined the latter, signing on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy to ply his trade at the famous Stade Vélodrome for the foreseeable future.
Jon Rowe yet to really get going in France
While the ability the wide attacker possesses is undeniable, it will take time for the youngster to settle into a new club, country, and culture.
Having only joined Marseille less than a month ago, the Englishman has had to make do with a couple of sporadic appearances from the substitutes’ bench thus far.
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Making his debut in the 67th minute of his new side’s 2-2 home draw with Reims, Rowe was introduced at a similar juncture in the 3-1 victory at Toulouse prior to the international break.
The former Norwich man has been with England’s Under-21 side over the last week, playing 20 minutes in their 4-1 friendly win over their Austrian counterparts.
Once back in the South of France, Rowe will have more time to settle into his new surroundings, before looking to make an impact at one of French and European football’s biggest clubs. Marseille have started the season well, and sit in among the early Ligue 1 pacesetters.
Predominantly a left-sided player, the ex-Canary has the ability to cut in or beat his opponent down the line. Tricky, skillful, and with an eye for goal, the youngster has everything required to succeed at the top level in the game, boasting a tenacity that allows him to compete with much bigger players physically.
Jon Rowe’s Norwich City departure could have been handled better
While Rowe quickly became a crowd favourite after breaking into the first-team with regularity last season, his time with the Norfolk club ended on a sour note.
Amid the speculation surrounding a potential move, and with agents almost certainly affecting his decision-making, the youngster was ordered to train with the club’s under-21’s while a transfer was discussed.
After continued talks, an agreement was reached between the French giants and the Championship club, with Rowe joining Marseille on an initial season-long loan with an obligation to buy.
The purchase price is thought to be around £13.5m, and while the move may well be a beneficial one for the youngster’s career, the fragmented way in which it came about will disappoint Canaries fans who thoroughly enjoyed seeing ‘one of their own’ make such a fantastic breakthrough at Carrow Road last year.
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