The Josh Sargent saga is officially over.
Toronto FC announced the signing of the United States forward from Norwich City on Friday in a move that could end up being worth more than £20 million with add-ons, potentially making it the largest transfer in Major League Soccer history. The current record move was Son Heung-min’s transfer to Los Angeles FC last summer from Tottenham Hotspur.
TFC said the contract extends through the 2030-31 season.
The move ends weeks of enmity between the 26-year-old St. Louis native and the club.
In January, manager Philippe Clement demoted Sargent from the first team after he failed to make himself available for an FA Cup match with Walsall. Sargent had indicated a clear desire to move to TFC after the recent birth of his third child. Norwich had interest in Sargent from clubs both in England and on the continent, but the player only wanted Toronto. The discord turned Sargent into a reviled figure at Carrow Road after being one of the most beloved players among Canaries supporters.
Prior to the demotion, Sargent notched seven goals in 22 Championship games this season. He had 53 goals in 146 league appearances for the Canaries across five seasons. Sargent is a product of the Werder Bremen academy and made his senior debut for the side in 2018.
Internationally, Sargent has made 29 appearances for the USMNT, scoring five goals. He was a member of the squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Sargent now joins a transformed Reds side that began its changes in earnest following the departures of Designated Players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi last summer. Among the other new faces at BMO Field are veteran centre-back Walker Zimmermann, goalkeeper William Yarbrough, left-back Matheus Pereira, Hungary winger Daniel Salloi and Colombia U-20 forward Emilio Aristizábal.
“We are thrilled to welcome Josh to Toronto FC as a foundational piece of what we have been building here at the club since last summer,” said Toronto FC General Manger Jason Hernandez in a news release.
“He brings high-level experience in some of the strongest leagues in the world and international pedigree at just 26 years old. He is a proven goalscorer, with a winning mentality and the intelligence that will lead our attack for years to come. Josh will just begin to enter the prime of his career while representing our club and our city. When we started conversations with Josh and his representation, it was very evident that he isn’t just the right player, but the right person to elevate the culture we have been building. We are excited for him and his family to start this new journey with us in Toronto, and we look forward to everyone supporting him as he steps on the field to fight for our badge.”
“I am excited to join Toronto FC and start a new chapter in my life with my family in Toronto,” said Sargent in the same release.
“I am grateful to everyone at the club for their belief in me and all the support throughout the process to make this move possible. From the initial conversations with Toronto FC, what excited me the most about the project was the ambition to be a competitive and winning team. I can’t wait to hit the ground running and play in front of all the fans at BMO Field.”
TFC opens its 2026 campaign on Saturday night against FC Dallas.