Norwich City goalkeeper Dan Barden spoke to Canaries TV after signing a new contract at the club until the summer of 2026.
Congratulations, Dan. Signing a new contract until June 2026. How are you feeling?
"I'm feeling really good. It's been a long journey, but really happy to get the deal done and be here for another two years. I really appreciate everything the club has done for me. It's been a tough few years, but happy to get another two to get back out playing and do what I know I can do."
You must feel part of the furniture here. How good has it been for you to develop here?
"I've been here five or six years now, ever since I was a scholar. The club's been amazing, I've seen all the changes at the training ground. It's an elite environment here with all the facilities we've got, the pool, the pitches, the gym. I've seen it since it was portacabins. I've loved being here, and happy to be here for another two years."
As part of your journey, you've had to show enormous resilience, with a few set-backs along the way. Does that add to the satisfaction of finding yourself where you are now?
"It's been a tough few years for me personally, I think I've had quite a few set-backs. It's not been ideal, and I've not been where I wanted to be. The club has stood by me the whole way, which has been amazing. My family and myself really appreciate that, and I'm ready to have a good amount of time to play and show what I can do."
You've gone through all of this so young, do you feel you've grown up quickly?
"The cancer happened when I was quite young. Looking at the positives, it's done quite a lot for me. Mentally, for resilience and helped to change me as a person, which has helped my football. I look at things differently and try to use it as a positive more than a negative."
It's wonderful to see you here, and looking so happy and excited about the future. Physically, how are you feeling?
"I'm feeling physically fit now, I've come back from an ACL injury last season, which happened when I was out on loan. I'm feeling good now, really fit, and ready to keep playing."
When you've been talking about your future with people at the club, what's the plan for Dan Barden?
"I think I need to get minutes, I need to go and play. Next year, I think it's looking like a loan. For me, I think that's ideal. I want to go out and play and get minutes that I've missed out on in the last few years, that's important for me to go play some football again."
Within the club, who have been your biggest supporters and those who have helped you during this journey?
"Grant Hanley has been someone that has been injured the same time as I have this season, so he's been a real senior voice and I've been able to talk to and do my rehab with. He's been really good at making sure that I do all the things I've needed to do. The other goalkeepers as well, (Angus) Gunny and (George) Longy have been good to talk to. Working with them in the last few months has been really positive for me."
I love to hear you talk about finding that gratitude and looking at life a little bit different. Do you describe yourself as a positive person?
"I try to be. I don't get as angry about things anymore. Cancer is a real perspective changer and it's something that affected my family and people around me. I find things a lot less stressful and it really does put things in perspective. I'm sure there's a lot of people out there who can relate. It was a big change for me when I was young, and I had to get used to that when I was young. I'm really thankful for all the nurses and people who helped me, doctors who treated me along the way. You see an amazing side to hospitals and I owe a lot of gratitude to those people. That perspective you gain from being in a tough situation. I try to use it in my football now, get less angry and it's nice to have those reality checks."
You talk about your family. When you're able to tell them about the new contract, how good is that?
"It's amazing, they were all buzzing for me. They've all seen how the last few years have gone, and it's obviously not been ideal, but they were over the moon. My dad has been a big part of my football, and he was just delighted."
You can watch the interview in full on Canaries TV below.