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Jeff Carlisle
Multiple Authors
Toronto FC has officially secured the signing of U.S. international striker Josh Sargent from Norwich City, as announced on Friday.
Previous reports from ESPN indicate that Toronto will pay an initial fee of $22 million to Norwich, potentially rising to $27 million with performance-based incentives. This transfer fee ranks among the highest ever paid by an MLS club for an incoming player.
The record for the highest fee remains at $26 million, paid by LAFC for Son Heung-Min last summer, which Sargent’s transfer could exceed if all incentives are met.
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Sargent has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract, committing to Toronto until June 2031.
During an interview with ESPN, Sargent expressed excitement about returning to North America with the birth of his third child last December, allowing him to be closer to family.
The prospect of joining a team with international teammates like Djordje Mihailovic and Walker Zimmerman was also appealing to him.
“With a growing family, the idea of moving closer to home became more attractive,” Sargent explained. “Toronto’s ownership has a clear vision for the team and plans that I find very appealing, which made the decision exciting.”
This transfer concludes a challenging saga that began last December when Toronto initially proposed an $18 million offer. After discussions faltered in January, Sargent missed an FA Cup match against Walsall and was subsequently directed to train with Norwich’s U21 squad following a meeting with sporting director Ben Knapper and manager Philippe Clement.
Sources reveal that Knapper made comments about Sargent’s family during the meeting, which visibly upset Sargent, leading to his absence from future matches with Norwich.
Sargent chose not to elaborate much on his final moments with the Canaries, stating, “It was unfortunate how things worked out there. I’m just happy to start this new chapter of my life and focus on moving forward.”
Regarding a proper farewell, Sargent noted, “There are two sides to every story. I had the chance to say goodbye to people I was close to, and that’s all I want to say at this point.”
This move is part of Toronto’s ongoing rebuild, which has shown progress after achieving a domestic treble in 2017. The last time Toronto made the playoffs was during the pandemic-affected 2020 season.
Alongside Mihailovic and Zimmerman, Toronto recently signed midfielder Dániel Sallói and boasts experienced manager Robin Fraser.
“I know there’s a lot of video analysis planned with Fraser,” Sargent commented.
During his time at Norwich, Sargent recorded 55 goals and 15 assists across competitions, scoring seven goals in 23 league appearances this season. His prospects for international call-ups have diminished, as his last inclusion in the U.S. men’s national team was in September, and he hasn’t scored for the national team since 2019.
When asked about how this move might affect his international chances, Sargent focused on his commitment to Toronto and did not discuss it with U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino. “My priority is to start strong here. If I perform well at the club level, it can open up opportunities with the national team,” he stated.
Additionally, Toronto FC acquired the right of first refusal for Sargent from St. Louis City SC, providing $500,000 in General Allocation Money — $250,000 in 2026 GAM and $250,000 in 2027 GAM — with a possibility of an extra $225,000 in conditional GAM based on performance metrics.
Sargent’s addition to TFC’s roster is pending a medical examination and the receipt of his work permit and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).