€20m market value
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Toronto FC have a deal in place to sign Josh Sargent from Norwich City. Transfermarkt can confirm multiple reports that the US men’s national team striker is headed to Canada. Toronto FC has been working on a deal to sign the Norwich City forward since mid-January. Their initial bid of $18 million (€15.4m) didn’t meet Norwich’s evaluation of the forward. They have now reached an agreement that could see Sargent become the most expensive signing in MLS history. Norwich will receive an initial $22 million (€18.7m) plus $5m (€4.2m) in add-ons. According to a report by TalkSport’s Alex Crook, Sargent is now on his way to Toronto to complete his medical.
Sargent, on his part, hasn’t been in the lineup since he missed Norwich’s 5-1 win in the FA Cup over fourth-division side Walsall in January. “He sent me a message to say that he was not available today because of transfer things that are in his head,” Norwich manager Philippe Clement said to the media when asked about Sargent’s absence at the time. “We need to speak about that this week inside the club. The club has been really clear about that. We know which situation we are in. He and his agent know the situation, so he will not leave in this transfer window.” Sargent, who has scored seven goals and three assists in 23 Championship games, hasn’t featured in the league since January 4.
This isn’t the first time that Sargent was on the verge of leaving a club only for a deal to collapse. In the summer, Bundesliga side Wolfsburg thought they had a deal in place to sign the 25-year-old striker. But ultimately the two parties couldn’t agree on a fee and Sargent remained in England. The striker then scored eight goals in 27 games across all competitions for Norwich, but with his club fighting relegation and a World Cup spot on the line, Sargent really wanted out this time. It now appears that he gets his wish as Toronto have finally met Norwich’s demands. One thing that might have moved things along is the fact that Norwich have been better in recent weeks, moving out of the relegation zone thanks to a clever winter transfer strategy. With that in mind, Norwich feel that Sargent is now expendable, especially if the club receives a significant transfer fee.
Sargent to Toronto FC? MLS club confident a deal can be reached
Before completing their move for Sargent, however, Toronto have to clear one other obstacle. According to a report by Tom Bogert, St. Louis City SC holds the “right of first refusal” for Josh Sargent if he ever decides to play in Major League Soccer. This means that if he were to sign with an MLS team, it must be with St. Louis City, or the club must be compensated if he is transferred elsewhere in the league. St. Louis wouldn’t be the only club to participate. Sargent’s former club Werder Bremen, will receive 10% of the transfer fee. Werder sold Sargent to Norwich for €9.5m in the summer of 2021.
In other words, Toronto FC would need to reach agreements with Norwich City and St. Louis CITY SC to complete the Sargent deal. The first part now seems to be done. Sargent, however, wouldn’t be the first player to pick a club that didn’t hold his MLS rights. In 2024, Marco Reus’ rights were held by Charlotte FC, but the German never had any interest in joining the club, and his rights were dealt to his current club, LA Galaxy. The same happened last summer when Thomas Müller opted to join the Whitecaps over FC Cincinnati, the club that held his MLS rights.