An in-depth look into our new summer recruit, Abu Kamara…
Born in Lambeth, Abu Kamara joined Norwich City’s academy at the age of 10 in 2013, joining as a left-back/left winger. With the youth coaching staff quickly discovering his knack for scoring goals, Kamara was pushed further upfield to become an attacking midfielder before converting fully into a striker.
Beginning his scholarship ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, the now 21-year-old’s first Under-18 Premier League appearance came in August 2019 in a 1-1 draw away at Leicester City. In the reverse fixture against the Foxes, the forward scored his first Under-18s goal in a thrilling 4-4 draw before scoring his second a month later in only his second start for Norwich Under-18s, netting in a 3-3 draw against Aston Villa.
Notching two goals in 11 appearances in his debut campaign, Kamara scored on opening day for the Under-18s in a 5-1 thrashing of West Bromwich Albion. Recording assists against Crystal Palace and Chelsea, Kamara made his Norwich Under-21s debut against Middlesbrough in Premier League 2 in October 2020. Netting both goals in 2-1 win over Southampton Under-18s, a month after his Under-21s debut, his first goal for the Canaries’ Under-21s came four days prior to Christmas at home to Wolves. Before then, Kamara netted a hat-trick for the Under-18s in the third round of the FA Youth Cup against Wolves.
Signing his first professional contract with Norwich in January 2021, the forward scored in four consecutive Under-18 Premier League fixtures and in total bagged 13 goals and recorded four assists in 27 appearances for the various youth sides, featuring once in the EFL Trophy against MK Dons.
His first season as a professional footballer saw him secure a hat-trick on matchday one of Premier League 2, a 3-0 win over Southampton. A consistent scorer for the Under-21s, he netted 15 goals in 26 regular league appearances, recording four assists as they reached the semi-finals of Premier League 2. He was also given his first taste of senior football as an unused substitute in a goalless draw away at Brighton & Hove Albion in February 2022.
The 2022/23 season saw Kamara score in his first seven Premier League 2 appearances, netting eight goals in total after bagging a brace in a 2-2 draw away at Leeds United. His continued goalscoring prowess at youth level, with 13 goals in 15 appearances, earned him his maiden first-team appearance, coming off the bench in a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Sheffield United in April 2023. He made a further two substitute appearances for the first team, coming on in fixtures against Rotherham United and Blackpool.
In July 2023, Kamara joined League One side Portsmouth on a season-long loan deal. Making his Pompey debut as a substitute at home to Bristol Rovers, Kamara scored his first goal for the club in only his seventh appearance, netting one and assisting another in a 3-1 league win over Peterborough United. Featuring in all 46 league games, Portsmouth secured the League One title with Kamara playing a key part, recording 10 assists and netting eight league goals. In total, the 21-year-old featured 52 times for Portsmouth, scoring 10 and recording 11 assists in a hugely successful loan spell.
Returning to Norwich for the start of the 2024/25 campaign, the forward featured twice as a substitute in the Championship. He scored his only senior goal for the club in a 4-3 win over Stevenage in the first round of the EFL Cup, recording an assist in the same fixture when teeing up Borja Sainz’s finish.
Internationally, Kamara has two caps to his name with England Under-20s, receiving them in June 2024. His debut came in a 2-1 win over Sweden Under-21s at the Stadion ŠRC Sesvete in June 2024, playing 66 minutes, before featuring for 65 minutes in a 2-2 draw against Republic of Ireland Under-21s four days later.
