Transfer confirmed
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Ali Ahmed is poised to join Norwich City, with Transfermarkt confirming an initial report from Pink Un that the Vancouver Whitecaps are nearing a deal with the Championship club. The 25-year-old midfielder has already traveled to England for a medical examination and is expected to sign a long-term contract with Norwich. Reports indicate that the Whitecaps will receive approximately €2 million, along with standard add-ons and a sell-on clause for the Canadian international.
While the transfer fee is notably lower than his market value, the move aligns with Ahmed’s ambition to play in Europe. As he enters the final year of his contract, the Whitecaps recognized the urgent need to sell him. Moreover, the structure of the sell-on and bonus clauses may bring the overall deal closer to his current market valuation of €4 million. Ahmed received an offer from 2. Bundesliga side Schalke during the summer, but negotiations with the Whitecaps fell through. He subsequently remained with the Whitecaps, contributing to their Canadian Championship victory and reaching the MLS Cup final, where they were defeated 3-1 by Inter Miami CF.
Following the season’s conclusion, the Whitecaps exercised the one-year club option in Ahmed’s contract. However, with his contract nearing its end, the club understood that it was time to capitalize on his value. At 25 years old, it appears to be the ideal moment for Ahmed to make his move overseas, particularly after a successful year where he registered four goals and 13 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions for the Whitecaps in 2025.
Who is Norwich signing in Ali Ahmed? Canaries acquire a versatile midfielder
What type of player is Ahmed? A relatively late developer, Ahmed has emerged as a versatile asset under former Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini. While recently utilized primarily as a left winger or left wing-back by current Whitecaps manager Jesper Sørensen, statistics from Transfermarkt indicate that Ahmed is also capable of playing on the opposite wing and in central midfield as a transitional player. His ability to move the ball forward swiftly has become his key strength, distinguishing him from a conventional winger or wing-back.
