Incoming Norwich City signing Jose Cordoba is joining a ‘very important club’, insists his international boss Thomas Christiansen.

The 23-year-old’s move from Levski Sofia for an undisclosed fee – reported in the Bulgarian media as €3.5m – will be rubber stamped when the transfer window opens later this month.

Cordoba is now with the Panama squad preparing for an opening World Cup qualifier against Guyana in the early hours of Friday morning.

The left-sided centre back was tracked by Scottish giants Rangers and Danish club Brondby, but opted to join Johannes Hoff Thorup’s Carrow Road revolution.

Panama chief, and former Leeds coach Christiansen, feels Cordoba has made the right call.

“I'm very happy, it's important to take a step forward and move forward in the sporting field,” said Cordoba’s national boss at his pre-match press call. “Norwich is a very important club, it's a very competitive league, he'll play 46 games, if it goes well, and his performance will grow. Norwich is a good team, they played for promotion against Leeds United (last season).”

Cordoba’s focus is on a big summer for his country before linking up with the Canaries in pre-season - subject to international clearance and approval by both the FA and EFL when the transfer window officially opens on June 14.

“I feel very confident and in tune with the group. We are all focused on qualifying for the World Cup,” he said. “The Rommel Fernández Stadium will be full, and that motivates us to give everything.”

Cordoba is a key player for his country after a cruciate knee ligament injury ruled out first choice centre back Andrés Andrade. The Austrian top flight defender is expected to be sidelined for eight months.

Panama have some eye-catching Copa America fixtures against Josh Sargent’s USA and Uruguay later in the summer, but Christensen is not taking Guyana lightly as his squad prepare to embark on their World Cup bid.

“Getting into the World Cup is the main objective. There are no excuses, we have to be part of it,” he said. “I am worried about the mentality which we go out (against Guyana). We have to go out to win and play a serious game. Guyana has quality, and we must be careful with what can happen.”