Report: Toronto FC finalizing $22M deal for Norwich's Sargent

Toronto FC is set to sign Norwich forward and United States international Josh Sargent for approximately $22 million, sources told Tom Bogert of The Athletic.

The deal could reportedly climb to $27 million with add-ons.

If completed, the signing would amount to the most expensive in Toronto's history and one of the most lucrative in Major League Soccer. Toronto's previous club-record signing was just under $11 million USD (€9.1 million) for attacking midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo in 2019, according to Transfermarkt. South Korea star Son Heung-min set the league record in August with his reported $26.5-million move to LAFC.

Sargent joined Norwich in August 2021 ahead of the club's return to the Premier League. He scored four goals in 29 appearances across all competitions that season, but the club was relegated back to the Championship following a last-place finish.

Over four seasons in England's second tier, Sargent's netted 51 goals with 12 assists across 121 Championship matches. However, the 26-year-old hasn't played since Jan. 4 and has trained separately from the first squad amid the reported interest from Toronto.

As part of the agreement, the Reds will also send $500K in general allocation money to St. Louis City SC, which own the right of first refusal for Sargent, Bogert reports. St. Louis could reportedly add another $200K in GAM depending on add-ons.

Sargent has scored five goals across 29 caps for the U.S. but has never played in the country's top domestic league. The Missouri native joined Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen as a youth player in January 2018 before making his first senior appearance in December of that year.

Toronto is still in search of an experienced goalscorer after cutting ties with Italian duo Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne in July. Head coach Robin Fraser opted to start Derrick Etienne Jr. up top in Saturday's season-opening loss to Dallas. The Haitian international tied the match in the 67th minute with a second-chance chip over 'keeper Michael Collodi but failed to score at all in 25 appearances last season.