Norwich City have confirmed the signing of Brazilian defender Bruno Alves on a loan-to-buy deal from Cruzeiro. Alves, 20, has become the Canaries' first addition of the summer window, joining on a season-long loan with a purchase option understood to be worth £1.7m for the highly-rated Brazil youth international defender. The defender has been in Norfolk with his partner and agent over recent days, finalising the deal and completing a medical after the two clubs struck an agreement last week. He will formally become a Canaries player from July 1, subject to international clearance and approval by The FA and EFL. City beat competition from a host of European clubs that have been monitoring Alves' development for a long time, including Dynamo Kyiv and Vitoria de Guimaraes. Real Madrid have been credited with interest in him throughout the last two seasons. Speaking to official club channels, Bruno Alves said he was excited by the opportunity to play for Norwich City. Ben Knapper, the club's sporting director, added that Alves is a player of real potential, and the club is looking forward to working with him. Alves will provide depth at left-sided centre back for Philippe Clement's side, with Jose Cordoba their only natural option on that side. He has spent his entire career with Brazilian top-flight club Cruzeiro, but hasn't made a senior appearance for the club. The defender is now set to link up with his new teammates at Colney as they return for pre-season training next week. Alves' signing is a significant coup for the Canaries, who have been scouting him for some time. The club's presence in South America, with two full-time scouts embedded on the continent, has positioned them effectively to complete the deal. Alves becomes the fourth signing directly from South America, following Gabriel Sara, Marcelino Nunez and Pedro Lima. The Canaries' strong presence in the region has allowed them to uncover talent that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. With Alves on board, Norwich City will be looking to build on their recent successes and push for promotion to the Premier League.