Figures released by the MLS Players Association have revealed the size of wage increase that the 26-year-old received after his extensive transfer saga at Carrow Road, which was eventually concluded in March through an initial £17m deal between the clubs.
Sargent sits 11th in the list behind the likes of Lionel Messi, Heung-Min Son and Thomas Muller. The former City striker has a base salary worth $3.21m (£2.37m) but has a guaranteed total compensation of $5.26m (£3.89m) for 2026, ahead of most of the league’s attacking stars.
Toronto sits in the middle of the table for overall salary contribution, ranking 14th out of 30 clubs at $21.4 million. Sargent, therefore, is picking up almost a quarter of their total salary outlay for 2026 in his role as a designated player.
The move to the BMO Field was mired in controversy after he decided to declare himself unavailable for City’s FA Cup third round clash against Walsall. He was subsequently banished to the under-21s, with Philippe Clement taking a hardline stance against his behaviour.
Sargent eventually got his wish after the clubs agreed a deal that could tick over £21m, but one that has undoubtedly affected how many City supporters view his legacy.
City opted to move for Australian international Mo Toure, who has made a blistering start to his Canaries career alongside Jovon Makama’s run of goal-scoring form that helped soften the blow of Sargent’s saga and eventual departure.
Sargent’s return is still significantly shy of Messi’s financial package, which has more than doubled after a contract extension last October. The Argentine international saw his base salary at Inter Miami rise substantially, while overall the deal is worth $28.3m (£20.9m) in guaranteed compensation.
Mohamed Toure’s impressive early impact has helped ease the void left by Sargent’s exit. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
Compared to Toronto’s other additions in the recent window, Sargent is the most costly. Benjamin Kuscevic is earning $804,982, Matheus Pereira will receive $650,800, Raheem Edwards is on $414,340, while Emilio Aristizabal will collect $344,788.
Sargent has made a slow start to life in Toronto, netting twice in his opening seven MLS matches before a thigh injury ruled him out of the last two games against San Jose and Inter Miami.
German outlet Bild have also suggested that Werder Bremen pocketed €900k from a sell-on clause in Sargent’s move to Canada from Carrow Road.