Thorne was highly regarded at City - but also a high earner

The Canaries will have to pay Cardiff �200,000 if they win promotion to the Premiership in the next two years.

The highly regarded 32-year-old Thorne signed from Stoke for �1.75m in 2001 and has scored 51 goals since then.

Lee Bullock joined Hartlepool from Cardiff Thursday, and a contract offer to Darren Williams was withdrawn, but Willie Boland has signed a new deal.

With the Bluebirds over �30m in debt, the club are desperate to reduce the wage bill from an estimated �6m, and they say they need to bring in �2.5m in transfer fees.

Our new manager has a different idea of how he wants our front line to work Cardiff owner Sam Hammam

Cardiff owner Sam Hammam says it was a difficult decision to release Thorne, who scored 14 goals from 31 starts last season, but that new manager Dave Jones had his own ideas about players.

"When fit, Thorney was undoubtedly the leader of our line, a tremendous player in every sense," said Hammam.

"I believe a lot of Rob Earnshaw's success here was down to his partnership with Thorne.

"But our manager has a different idea of how he wants our front line to work, a different style of approach.

"Thorney is also easily the biggest earner at the club. We've got plenty of big earners, but he's at another level again.

"To get players in we have to get players out.

I have heard nothing but good things about the club, from top to bottom Peter Thorne on Norwich

"We have to change because the team has stood still, clearly it wasn't a team that was going to get us promotion."

Thorne will wear the number eight shirt vacated by Gary Holt at Norwich next season.

"I'm really excited by the move, it's a great opportunity," Thorne told the Canaries' website.

"I'm joining one hell of a squad of players and I have heard nothing but good things about the club, from top to bottom."

Norwich boss Nigel Worthington added: "I'm absolutely delighted to get a player of Peter's experience and quality to add to an already very strong forward line at this club.

"He'll be a valuable asset to us for the challenge ahead."

Nottingham Forest defender Matthieu Louis-Jean and Wigan midfielder Jason Jarrett have also signed for the Canaries.