Ali Ahmed has completed a move from the Vancouver Whitecaps to Norwich City in the English Championship on a three-year deal until 2029.

The 25-year-old’s departure from Vancouver comes after German second division club Schalke pursued Ahmed back in August. Norwich were also keen on Ahmed back in August, and continued their pursuit ahead of the January transfer window.

Ahmed travelled to England last Thursday and successfully completed his medical Friday.

Ahmed leaves the Whitecaps after four seasons and 102 appearances for the MLS side, culminating in Ahmed starting and scoring Vancouver’s lone goal in its 3-1 defeat to Inter Miami in December’s MLS Cup final.

Sources close to the deal say Ahmed ultimately chose Norwich for the opportunity to fight for a starting spot in one of Europe’s most competitive and demanding leagues as he prepares to stake his claim to a place in Jesse Marsch’s Canadian World Cup squad.

It also marks the realization of Ahmed’s long held dream of playing in Europe. As a teenager, Ahmed, who grew up in Toronto’s Lawrence Heights neighbourhood, went on trial in Portugal and England.

This is also another major marker on Ahmed’s upward trajectory for club and country.

Although he made his national team debut back during the 2023 Gold Cup, Ahmed has steadily became a regular fixture in Marsch’s Canadian squad, featuring as a substitute in the knockout rounds of Copa América to becoming a regular starter on Canada’s wing through international friendlies, the 2025 Concacaf Nations League, and the 2025 Gold Cup.

Ahmed’s feisty, pedal down energy on the field’s fringes coupled with his dangerous dribbling and crossing ability has been an asset to Marsch and will now be measured in England’s pressurized second tier, with one of that level’s most competitive teams.

Over the last 20 years, Norwich City have bounced back and forth between the Championship and the Premier League, winning the English Championship division three times since 2003, and securing promotion to the Premier League as Championship runners-up in 2011 and playoff winners in 2015.

This season, however, the Canaries currently sit 22nd in England’s second division, inside the relegation zone, and replaced their manager back in mid-November.

Since hiring former Glasgow Rangers and Monaco manager Philippe Clement, Norwich have stabilized with a 4-3-3 record and are one point behind Portsmouth, who sit outside the relegation zone.