In December 2015, West Ham confirmed the sale of Matt Jarvis to Norwich City after spending the first-half of the season on loan with the Canaries.
After becoming a solid player with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Jarvis joined West Ham for a reported £10 million fee on a five-year deal in 2012.
The winger had his best season for Wolves leading up to the transfer as he had scored eight goals to go along with six assists in 37 games.
Moreover, at 26, West Ham were signing a player who was entering his prime and had already been capped by England.
Fast forward three years and it seems as though his career at West Ham didn’t go quite to plan. Here’s what the fans had to say after his departure…
@whufc_official @MrMattJarvis @NorwichCityFC worst signing of allardyce era. Just never did the business and cost a fortune
— Tommy French (@tommytheperm) December 24, 2015
@whufc_official @MrMattJarvis @NorwichCityFC great news
— will earle (@willearle_) December 24, 2015
@whufc_official @MrMattJarvis @NorwichCityFC best Christmas present ever
— Sam Krueger (@samkrueger08) December 24, 2015
@whufc_official @MrMattJarvis @NorwichCityFC Wow, Christmas really has come early this year
— Ryan (@fplryn) December 24, 2015
https://twitter.com/liamions/status/679997496983187456
After three fairly poor seasons with West Ham, Jarvis joined Norwich on an initial season-long loan deal. He made seven appearances for the Canaries, scoring two goals, including one on his debut and a result of that, Norwich signed him for a reported £2.5 million fee although he was injured. Since then, he’s struggled with injuries and has barely played for the club.
Similarly, during his time at West Ham Jarvis didn’t really match the heights he had set at Wolves. In his first season in east London, he only scored two goals over 32 appearances and that would prove to be his best tally at the club.
The following season he was again poor and by the end of that year, it was quite clear that he was surplus to requirements as he only made 11 appearances in his penultimate season with the club.
Once a winger, who had been a shining light for Wolves in the Premier League, Jarvis failed to show any form and his career has gone downhill since.
West Ham did make a loss on his sale but considering how poor he had been for the club, it seems that the fans were quite right to be relieved by his departure.
