Toronto FC have today reached an agreement to acquire U.S. international forward Josh Sargent from Norwich City, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

This development concludes a long, public and very ugly saga, which intensified after Sargent requested to be excluded from Norwich’s squad for an FA Cup fixture last month. Following that request, Sargent found himself sidelined, training with the Under-21 team, and he went on to miss the club’s last eight matches as tensions between him and the management escalated.

Despite this, Norwich City havr maintained that Sargent, who is under contract with the club until 2028, was not up for sale.

Toronto FC has have agreed to pay an upfront fee of $22 million (£16.3 million) for the 25-year-old forward, with potential add-ons that could bring the total package to $27 million (£20 million). This fee represents one of the largest transfers in Major League Soccer history, trailing only Son Heung-min’s transfer fee of $26.5 million to LAFC and Emmanuel Latte Lath’s $22 million move to Atlanta United. Previously, Norwich rejected an $18 million offer from Toronto, deeming it insufficient.

Sargent is poised to take a central role in Toronto FC’s revamped lineup, joining fellow designated player Djordje Mihailovic and bolstered by free-agent center-back Walker Zimmerman and central midfielder Jose Cifuentes. He will be looking to reinforce his position in the U.S. Men’s National Team as the World Cup approaches this summer. Despite earning 29 caps for the national team, Sargent’s last goal came in 2019, and he faces tough competition, with forwards like Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, and Patrick Agyemang ahead of him in the depth chart.

On a club level, Sargent’s productivity has been notable; he was included in the EFL Championship Team of the Season last year, tallying 15 goals and five assists in 32 appearances. He scored seven league goals before his fallout with Norwich’s management, where he played since 2021 across both the Premier League and Championship, netting 56 goals in 157 appearances overall.

Randers chief Jesper Sorensen has said in the Danish media that the club would have almost certainly have tried to increase Mohamed Toure's price tag if they were able to predict his start to life at Norwich City with his impressive start where he became the first player since 2013 in any division to score a hattrick on his full debut.

The Canaries swooped for the Australian international striker at the end of the winter transfer window for an initial £2.6m, with a potential £700,000 in add-ons and bonuses.  Sorenson goes on to say that whilst Toure had been scouted by many clubs Norwich were the only ones to act decisively and offer a fair price for the young striker

"The dialogue with Norwich was good. They showed understanding for the demands we had and the potential we could see," Sorensen told Danish outlet Bold.

"I can't comment on the numbers, but just point out that it's a good Randers sale. So it's clear that if he had played the whole autumn, as he has started in Norwich, the price would probably have been different. But that wasn't the case, and that's why we're proud of the sale we ended up making.

"We are, of course, looking forward to both achieving various bonuses and the opportunity to realise the resale clause that exists. Because he has the potential to go really far."

"There were many suitors, but there were also many who weren't concrete. It was Sturm Graz this summer, but we couldn't agree on a suitable sum," said Sorensen. "The rest of the offers that have come in have been minimal, and they haven't been interesting enough.

"There have always been scouts and clubs who have taken note of his potential. Then there have been matches where he hasn't shown it, but no one could take those extraordinary things away from him, and you don't find those skills in many places. In that respect, he is simply unique."

 

 

After the match away at Oxford United it was confirmed by the Canaries Head Coach Philippe Clement that Norwich City top scorer Jovon Makama could miss the rest of the season because of a foot injury,

Makama has scored 13 goals in 31 appearances for the Canaries but limped off in the second half against Blackburn Rovers last weekend, a game which team-mate Papa Amadou Diallo missed after being injured in the warm-up.

"Jov broke a bone in his foot so he will be out probably until the end of the season, or just in the last games that he will be back," Clement told BBC Radio Norfolk following Tuesday's 3-0 win at Oxford United.

Norwich City head coach Philippe Clement gave an injury update at his press conference today ahead of the lunchtime kick off tomorrow at home to Blackburn in the Championship

The main injury news is that Matej Jurasek will not be available for selection for the game at Carrow Road as he has picked up a foot injury in training and requires tests to understand how long he faces on the sidelines. Clement told the assembled media that the Norwich City wide man has developed a problem with his foot and although it is not a fracture, a specialist assessment is required to determine the extent of the issue.

22-year-old Jurasek’s tough time at Norwich City has been well documented. He joined from Slavia Prague with a growing reputation last winter but the winger has often struggled to make a impact and has also found form hard to come by consistently

Elsewhere, Shane Duffy and Jeffrey Schlupp are still on the road back to fitness, but in more positive news for Canaries fans Amankwah Forson has been back in training this week as he returns from his own injury issues. He will not be fit to feature on Saturday, but Norwich City boss Clement is eager to bring him back as a more robust player

Norwich City head coach Philippe Clement gave an injury update at his press conference today ahead of the lunchtime kick off tomorrow at home to Blackburn in the Championship

The main injury news is that Matej Jurasek will not be available for selection for the game at Carrow Road as he has picked up a foot injury in training and requires tests to understand how long he faces on the sidelines. Clement told the assembled media that the Norwich City wide man has developed a problem with his foot and although it is not a fracture, a specialist assessment is required to determine the extent of the issue.

22-year-old Jurasek’s tough time at Norwich City has been well documented. He joined from Slavia Prague with a growing reputation last winter but the winger has often struggled to make a impact and has also found form hard to come by consistently

Elsewhere, Shane Duffy and Jeffrey Schlupp are still on the road back to fitness, but in more positive news for Canaries fans Amankwah Forson has been back in training this week as he returns from his own injury issues. He will not be fit to feature on Saturday, but Norwich City boss Clement is eager to bring him back as a more robust player.

 

Norwich have today moved up to 18th in the Championship table as Leicester City have been docked six points by the English Football League for breaching financial rules in previous seasons.

The points deduction for Leicester has been applied with immediate effect meaning that the Foxes have fallen from 17th to 20th in the Championship and are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

It comes after Leicester were charged by the Premier League in May for a profit and sustainability (PSR) breach in the three years up to 2023-24.

Leicester were relegated from the top flight last season and are currently without a permanent manager after Marti Cifuentes was sacked in January.

In a statement Leicester said they were "disappointed" with the decision, branding it "disproportionate".

"While the commission's findings significantly reduced the unprecedented scale of the sanction originally sought by the Premier League, the recommendation remains disproportionate and does not adequately reflect the mitigating factors presented, the importance of which cannot be overstated given the potential impact on our sporting ambitions this season," the statement said.

"We are now reviewing the decision in full and considering the options available to us.

"We remain committed to engaging constructively and ensuring that any action is fair, proportionate and determined through the appropriate processes."

Norwich City are reportedly working hard on a late deadline day transfer to try and bring in experienced QPR midfielder Sam Field to Carrow Road on loan.

City have made two offers for Rennes midfielder Glen Kamara which have been rebuffed and as a consequence are now understood to be trying to progress a deal to bring in Field to Carrow Road on loan for the remainder of the season. Sky Sports are reporting today that the 27 year old is due for a medical at the club later this afternoon.

Charlton Athletic and Derby County have also been linked with the experienced midfielder, who has made 198 appearances for QPR but Norwich are hoping to strike an agreement in due course.

Field, who has started nine times for Julien Stephen's side this season, is viewed as providing Norwich with some defensive midfield cover and adding some experience into a young side. He has also played as a left back this season, including in their Carrow Road defeat to City in December.

Norwich City are set to win a strong battle to sign young Dundalk defender Vinnie Leonard for what is understood to be a six-figure sum plus future add-ons.

The teenager has been attracting interest from a lot of top clubs including the likes of Celtic and Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion, however he is poised to join the Canaries, initially linking up with their development squad.

Leonard, despite being only 17, has already made 34 League of Ireland appearances and is set to become the latest recruit for Norwich City to arrive from the country. Norwich have a heavy recruitment presence in the country having previously enjoyed success with the likes of Adam Idah and Andrew Omobamidele.

Norwich have already added Irish winger Luke Chukwu to their development sides, with Leonard poised to become the latest recruit from that area. Dundalk boss Ciarán Kilduff discussed his future last week.