Deal Canceled
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Josh Sargent, striker for the US men’s national team, will not be returning to the Bundesliga as anticipated. Although a transfer to VfL Wolfsburg was nearly finalized, reports from Germany indicate that the agreement fell through due to a failure to settle on a fee between the two clubs. Additionally, sources from Transfermarkt suggest that Sargent’s camp played a role in the decision, as he has other potential opportunities this summer.
Negotiations were heading towards a €24 million fee, inclusive of standard add-ons, which had been agreed upon last week. Had the transfer been completed, Sargent would have joined the ranks of USMNT players moving for over €20 million. With add-ons, the deal would have paralleled the €24 million transfer fee that Real Betis’ Johnny Cardoso received from Atlético Madrid earlier this week, placing Sargent among the ten most expensive USMNT players in history. Despite the cancellation of the Wolfsburg deal, Sargent is still projected to secure a significant transfer this summer, potentially ranking among the most valuable US players ever.
This potential move to Wolfsburg would have marked Sargent’s second experience in the Bundesliga. The 25-year-old forward first moved to Germany as a teenager to join Werder Bremen’s academy, eventually making his debut for the first team during the 2018/19 season, where he scored two goals in ten appearances. He made a notable breakthrough the following year, netting four goals and assisting four times across 28 Bundesliga fixtures. Sargent’s last season in Germany was disrupted by the pandemic, concluding with Bremen’s relegation to the 2. Bundesliga. Consequently, Bremen was compelled to sell Sargent for €9.5 million to Norwich as one of their few valuable assets.
Market Value Surge: Josh Sargent
Initially struggling at Norwich, Sargent found the net just twice in 26 Premier League appearances. Finishing had also been problematic during his early years at Werder Bremen. However, his goal-scoring ability steadily improved over the last three seasons in the Championship. In the 2022/23 campaign, he scored 13 goals in 40 league matches, followed by 16 goals in 26 appearances, and 15 goals in 32 Championship games last season. This consistent improvement has seen Sargent’s market value rise from a low of €7 million in 2022 to an impressive €16 million now.
For the time being, a return to the Bundesliga is off the table. Wolfsburg had intended to make him the focal point of their revamped attacking lineup, especially after a disappointing season led to the dismissal of head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl. As a club backed by Volkswagen, Wolfsburg has high aspirations and has been in search of a reliable goalscorer for quite some time. Sargent was viewed as that crucial element, but now the team must explore other options.
