Former Norwich City defender Christoph Zimmermann has been promoted from the German second division in his first year with SV Darmstadt 98.

The 30-year-old joined Darmstadt from the Canaries last summer after five years in Norfolk, during which he earned two Championship promotions and captained the side on their way to the 2018-19 second tier title.

He's now earned another promotion with the Lilies, and can secure the 2.Bundesliga trophy with a point at Greuther Furth tomorrow.

Zimmermann has made 32 appearances for Torsten Lieberknecht's side this season, starting 84pc of their league games as they've dominated this term.

His contract runs until the summer of 2025 at the Stadion am Böllenfalltor, and the promotion means he's likely to feature in the Bundesliga for the first time despite having played for the youth teams at Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund.

He reflected on his bond with Norwich fans in December last year, saying: "You don't celebrate with the fans after the games and say thank you for the support like in Germany to the same extent in England. Under Farke, we started doing a few rounds after the game to say thank you. 

"That was extremely well received and created a strong bond between the players and the fans.  

“Saying thank you after the game, taking a little time for the fans in front of the stadium, chatting a bit, taking a picture, giving an autograph so that the fans realise that they are part of the whole – I lived that."