Norwich City will not have wanted to be looking for a new left-winger this summer, but Ali Ahmed’s unfortunate injury has almost forced the Canaries to extend their transfer window past the season’s opening day.

Philippe Clement was in an enviable position among Championship managers last month, indicating in early July that he didn’t expect many additional transfers after signing Andre Brooks, Sam Field, and Bruno Alves.

Darlin Yongwa has since joined on a free transfer to offer depth to the full-back position, but it was perhaps the final piece of the puzzle, as Norwich attempt to push on in Clement’s first full season in command and compete for promotion.

Unfortunately, they have suffered an early setback when Canadian winger Ali Ahmed, who was influential in the second half of last season after joining from the Vancouver Whitecaps, ruptured his ACL in a pre-season friendly against Osasuna, an injury that will likely sideline him for the entire season.

Norwich City should provide a career reset for Samuel Edozie.

With vocalist Mo Toure taking Ahmed’s 21 number this season as a gesture of solidarity, the 25-year-old’s absence from the 2026/27 season seems almost guaranteed.

Early rumours from Italy indicated that Bologna’s Benjamin Dominguez was on their radar, but perhaps they could look closer to home and offer a career break to Southampton’s Samuel Edozie.

The former Manchester City academy starlet has had a tough four years since his £10 million move to the south coast.

The 23-year-old struggled to get started in the Premier League, but he was an effective bench option for Russell Martin in the 2023/24 Championship season, scoring six goals on his way to promotion via the play-offs.

Since his promotion, he has battled to maintain his spot in the Saints’ lineup. He was loaned out to Anderlecht for the 2024/25 season He didn’t make his first appearance last season until February, starting only three of the 18 games he appeared across all competitions.

Edozie was a victim of Southampton’s good squad depth last year under Tonda Eckert, which has only increased this summer with the £9 million addition of Lewis Dobbin and the impending loan signing of Manchester City’s Divin Mubama.

Sam Edozie’s career statistics by club, courtesy FotMob.

Years

Club

Appearances

Goals

Assists

2021-2022

Manchester city

1

Southampton has a loan agreement with Anderlecht for the period 2024-2025.

32

4

4

The 23-year-old’s future on the South Coast is plainly uncertain, and Norwich should be ready to capitalise, with numerous anonymous second-tier suitors already keen, according to recent sources.

Norwich City may provide the environment for Samuel Edozie to achieve his potential.

Norwich has acquired a reputation in recent years for being a location where young attacking players can come and develop, and Edozie should see that as a huge advantage if the Canaries sign him to replace Ahmed this season.

Oscar Schwartau, Mo Toure, and Jovan Makama have all made significant progress at Carrow Road over the last year, particularly the former two under Clement.

Similarly, Philippe Clement brings out the best in Anis Ben Slimane. The Tunisian struggled in his first year at Carrow Road, and he did not make the squad until January of last year owing to a quad injury.

When he came into the side, he scored five goals and assisted six in 26 games across all competitions, and he started the 2026/27 season with a goal against MK Dons.

Ben Slimane is similar to Edozie in that he was unpopular in his early 20s at Sheffield United, when he was signed while the team was still in the Premier League. The Southampton attacker, like the Tunisian in 2024, is looking for a fresh start and may follow in his footsteps.

Southampton may be leery of sanctioning a deal with Norwich City; but, the Canaries might hit gold if it goes through.

Edozie is out of contract at the end of the season, and with his position in the pecking order worse than it was last year, Southampton may want to make some money by selling him before his contract expires.

However, the Saints’ primary goal this year is to leave the Championship after being kicked out of the play-offs last year, since their Premier League parachute payments run out this summer.

Norwich have the same aims, especially because only Tonda Eckert’s team earned more points in 2026 than they did. The Canaries are riding a wave of momentum, and if they can sustain it throughout the season, Philippe Clement’s team might crash a top-two party in May.

So, with Edozie still possessing plenty of untapped potential, Southampton may be reluctant of selling him to a direct rival. If Norwich becomes the site of a career comeback, the Saints’ Premier League status may be jeopardised.

However, the 23-year-old could be just what the Canaries need to reinforce their promotion credentials while Ahmed is away.