QPR have announced the arrival of Welsh international Rhys Norrington-Davies on a season long loan from Sheffield United. The 26 year-old left back played seventeen times for the Blades last season and will be looking for more consistent minutes during his temporary stay at Loftus Road.
His Story So Far
Norrington-Davies joined Sheffield United in 2017, having successful loan spells at Barrow and Rochdale in the National League and League One, respectively, before a breakout season in the 2020/21 campaign. Norrington-Davies started the 2020/21 season at Luton, before then joining Stoke City in January, making thirty-eight Championship appearances in an impressive campaign.
The fullback, who can also play as a left sided central defender, has played just fifty-seven times in the league for Sheffield United since the start of the 2021/22 season and has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Since sustaining a major hamstring injury, including nerve damage, that saw him unable to join his compatriots at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Norrington-Davies has started just five league games and will be hoping that his loan switch to West London will allow him to play more consistently once again.
Speaking to QPR’s official website, Norrington-Davies stated, “I’m coming in here to play football. I was told that they needed a left-back… so I’m looking forward to that opportunity”
QPR were in desperate need for a left-back, with Ziyad Larkeche suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury during pre-season which is likely to rule him out for much, if not the entirety of the season. Brazilian youngster Joao ‘Esquerdinha’ Henrique was the only other left-back at the club until Norrington-Davies’ arrival. It is clear to see that the nineteen-year-old Brazil youth international shows exceptional promise, but was yet to make a Championship appearance until the start of this season.
Rhys Norrington-Davies, therefore, provides an alternative option with significant Championship experience playing for one of the division’s better sides. Both the player and his new side will be hoping that his fitness issues are in the past.
A Busy Monday At Loftus Road
The announcement of Norrington-Davies was just one of three significant pieces of news coming out of West London today.
QPR have also announced that former loanee Isaac Hayden has rejoined the club on a permanent basis following the termination of his contract at Newcastle United. The thirty-year-old Jamaica international hadn’t played for the Magpies since the 2021/22 season, and has spent plenty of time out on loan in the following years, including time with both Norwich and Portsmouth. Hayden brings much needed experience to a young Rangers squad that has started the season poorly, becoming just the third outfield player over the age of thirty currently at the club.
Elsewhere, Zan Celar’s disastrous time in England has come to an end, as he leaves QPR in favour of a move to 2. Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf on an ‘initial’ season long loan. The 26-year-old Slovenia international scored just twice in his debut campaign in W12, a brace against Cardiff City, before a hamstring injury forced him to miss out on the rest of the season. Celar had fallen down the pecking order at Loftus Road, behind new star man Richard Kone, fellow new signing Rumarn Burrell, and Michael Frey. The Slovenian will be hoping to recapture his form exhibited at FC Lugano, for whom he was the Swiss Super League’s top scorer in 2023/24.
QPR’s transfer window is unlikely to be over just yet, either. The club are set to announce the permanent return of Japanese winger Koki Saito this week. Saito was initially slated to re-join the Rs several weeks ago, before Derby entered the fray, but the player has finally chosen Loftus Road as his destination.
Written by Amar Topan (@W12Amar on X)
