Toronto FC are ready to sign Josh Sargent from Norwich City after the two teams reached an agreement worth more than £20 million.

The USA international joined the Canaries in 2021, and despite a difficult first season in the Premier League, he was a prolific scorer for the club in the Championship.

However, he harmed his reputation with the fans by refusing to participate in the FA Cup match against Walsall last month, and manager Philippe Clement then froze Sargent out, while the player also had a disagreement with sports director Ben Knapper when Toronto’s original bid was rejected.

Norwich City hailed for Josh Sargent’s transfer fee as he leaves Carrow Road.

The standoff between player and club benefited neither party, and Toronto’s ongoing interest in Sargent made a deal seem inevitable.

A breakthrough was struck this week, with the MLS club agreeing to pay an initial £15.5 million for the 26-year-old, although add-ons could raise the price by an additional £5 million.

So, it will be a huge sale for Norwich, and while the transfer market is closed in England, Mo Toure’s record since his arrival suggests the Norfolk club will be able to cope in the coming months as they attempt to secure their second-tier status.

It will be a comfort for everyone involved that Sargent’s future is now secured, and when asked by FLW whether this was a decent deal for the club, Norwich fan pundit Zeke Downes was delighted with the fee they received, predicting that they will put the money to good use in the summer.

“I believe £20 million is a very good price at this stage. We definitely would have expected more before all of this started, but the fact that he refused to play means it’s a fair price, since everyone knew he didn’t want to stay at the club.

“We were certainly content to let him not play unless a side came up with enough money, so what Toronto FC did was probably best for all parties in the end, as we can now reinvest that money.

“Jovon Makama and Toure cost a combined £4m, and they’re both doing really well, so with the £20m, we can use that to invest in a winger and a left-back, so I think it will be really good long-term for the squad.”

Norwich City can look to a bright future under Philippe Clement.

First and foremost, Sargent’s behavior in forcing this move was inappropriate, and it will harm his reputation among supporters. Even if you are desperate to go, there are options, and refusing to participate will never be justified.

To their credit, Norwich were firm with the youngster by not incorporating him in the first squad, and they were also determined to get a high fee.

This appears to be a fair agreement for both parties, as Sargent was a very strong player for Norwich in the past, and you would expect him to prosper with Toronto FC.

Finally, it is extremely difficult to keep a player who does not want to be at a club, and Norwich have increased their spending ahead of the summer window.

The Canaries’ recent recruitment has been highly remarkable, with Makama and Toure deserving special mention.

When you combine it with Clement’s ability to improve individuals and get results, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Norwich in the long run, even if they still have some work to do to remain up this season.