On 4th January 2008, Norwich City signed 18 year old Chelsea left-back Ryan Bertrand on loan until the end of the 2007/8 season

Bertrand, a Chelsea trainee, had made appearances in Chelsea Reserves and had one England U19 cap at the time. He had spent three spells on loan - two with Bournemouth in 2006/7 and the first half of the 2007/8 season with League One side Oldham Athletic, where he made 22 appearances.

Glenn Roeder is quoted on the Canaries' official site as saying: "We have been following Ryan at Oldham and we've been very impressed. We believe he can step up to the Championship and help us to pick up as many points as we can."

“He comes to me highly recommended,” said Roeder. “As always I make sure I do my homework. I asked a lot of people, including, although he might not have seen a lot of Ryan around the place, Joe Cole, who I am very close to at Chelsea. He said, 'Glenn everything I have seen or heard has been very positive that Ryan's got a big future in the game', and he did extremely well at Oldham. Mark Crossley, his goalkeeper at Oldham who Lee Clark is very close to, we quizzed him about Ryan and everything was good. Robert Fleck, who scouts for the club now, watched him at Southend and said he was probably the outstanding player on the pitch, and ready to step up to Championship level. Frank Arnesen (Chelsea sporting director) told me there were at least three other Championship clubs that wanted to take Ryan, but Frank was particularly keen because of the experience that Jimmy (Smith) had here to point Ryan in our direction. It is good news for the club that young players want to come and further their careers at Norwich City.”

Bertrand provides instant competition for Mo Camara, who was brought in in November to cover for long-term injury absentee Adam Drury.

Ryan Bertrand added: "I'm really looking forward to playing for such a big club as Norwich City. I knew Norwich had been looking at me over the last month or so and once I heard they wanted me having only come back from my loan at Oldham yesterday, then I was straight up here. It's brilliant to get a chance to play here and I see it as the next stage of my career."

Ryan made his full City debut in the 3-1 away win at Barnsley on 12th January 2008. He finished the season with 20 appearances and a regular spot in the first team.

A variety of papers reported on 29th June 2006 that Bertrand was a target for Premiership new boys Hull City. Instead, Bertrand was loaned again to Norwich on 4th July 2008, initially until January but Glenn Roeder stated: “There is a possibility, after speaking to [Chelsea sporting director] Frank Arnesen, that he will be able to stay the whole year.”