FORMER Norwich City professional Anthony Spyrou has penned a FA contract with Holland FC.

The deal runs until the summer of 2021 - the end of next season - and is a major coup for the Eastcliff side.

Striker Spyrou, who grew up in Frinton, joined the Canaries' academy in 2014 and represented their under-18 and under-23 teams before signing on loan for Wrexham at the end of the 2018/19 campaign.

More recently he was at National League side Chesterfield, again on loan, where his time came to an end in November.

His Norwich contract was cancelled by mutual consent just before Christmas and now, keen to return home to Tendring, he has joined up with Paul Phelan's ambitious Thurlow Nunn League team.

In the absence of a first division south fixture this weekend, he looks set to make his debut in a specially-arranged friendly at West Bergholt.

"It's one of the most exciting signings I've ever been involved in, in all my time in management," said an ecstatic Phelan.

"Bringing Anthony here is an enormous coup for our club and shows the ambition we have.

"We don't want to plod or stand still - we want to evolve and more forward.

"Anthony can help us do that because he's a very talented boy.

"To be truthful, he should be playing at a much higher level, in front of big crowds.

"But things haven't worked out for him in the pro game and, to his great credit, he just wants to be happy.

"He's been homesick and hasn't enjoyed living far away, in hotels and flats.

"He wants to be back in the area, near his parents and girlfriend, and I admire him for being so honest.

"People will suggest he's unambitious but he's just a really decent, grounded lad who wants to be happy.

"He wants to be near his family and there's nothing big-time about him.

"After being in the pro game, he could have looked down his nose at non-league football but nothing could be further from the truth.

"To say I'm over the moon that's he's agreed to join us is an understatement."

London-born Spyrou signed his first professional contract with Premier League side Norwich last February.

The 20-year-old has made seven appearances for Chesterfield this season, most recently in their 2-2 draw at Ebbsfleet in November.

"In terms of attributes, Anthony's got lots of pace and makes clever runs, to get behind defenders," added Phelan.

"He's rapid and he's also a big lad, who will cause no end of problems.

"He'll keep two or three defenders occupied in every game and he can finish with both feet.

"Teams will be scared of him and rightly so, because this is a lad who's coming to us from the professional ranks.

"I'd also like to mention our chairman, Mark Sorrell.

"He's been absolutely brilliant in helping get the deal over the line.

"I couldn't have wished for a better or more supportive chairman.

"He knows what I need and am after in terms of the squad and he's doing everything in his power to bring players in."

Holland ran out 3-2 winners at home to Hackney Wick, on Saturday.

It left them sixth in the first division south table.