Dutch defender Jos Hooiveld joins Norwich City from Southampton

CITY have signed experienced Dutch central defender Jos Hooiveld on loan for the season from Southampton.

Hooiveld, 31, joined Southampton initially on loan from Celtic in the summer of 2011, joining them permanently in January 2012 and playing regularly in their successful Championship campaign that season as the Saints achieved promotion to the Premier League.

A commanding figure at 6ft 4ins with the ability to weigh in with vital goals from defence, Hooiveld has gone on to make 77 appearances in all competitions for Southampton.

Hooiveld's career has seen him play in his native country Holland (Heerenveen and Zwolle), Austria (Kapfenberger SV), Finland (Inter Turku), Sweden (AIK), Denmark (FC Copenhagen), Scotland (Celtic) and England (Southampton).

He has one year left on his Southampton contract and told Canaries.co.uk: "I am very excited about this move. I have played at Norwich and I was very impressed with the surroundings and the atmosphere. It was a full house then and again last Saturday when I saw the Bournemouth game.

"Everybody I have asked about Norwich says only good things. I know Gary Hooper from our time at Celtic together and he was very positive about everything at the Club when I phoned him to talk about coming here.

"I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the players in training and fighting for a place in the team. It’s a very good squad at Norwich and has every chance of doing well this season."

City boss Neil Adams commented: "Jos is a very solid centre-back with experience at the top level and of course of getting promoted from this division. He gives us extra strength in our defence and increases competition for places which is always good.

"It's a 46-game campaign and with the injury to Ryan Bennett it would only take another injury or two to leave us potentially short of players in key positions. Having strength in depth is vital and I'm pleased with the additions we have made in the window."