Norwich City's Josh Sargent Chooses to Sit Out FA Cup Match Amidst Transfer Speculation
January 11, 2026
News & Politics

Norwich City's Josh Sargent Chooses to Sit Out FA Cup Match Amidst Transfer Speculation

Coach Philippe Clement clarifies club’s stance on Sargent’s availability and potential January transfer

Summary

Norwich City’s head coach Philippe Clement revealed that U.S. forward Josh Sargent declined to participate in the recent FA Cup fixture against Walsall due to transfer-related issues occupying his mind. Despite reports linking the 25-year-old to MLS team Toronto FC, Clement affirmed that Sargent will remain with Norwich through the current transfer window. The club progressed comfortably to the FA Cup's fourth round following a dominant 5-1 victory, highlighted by Jovon Makama’s hat trick.

Key Points

Josh Sargent, U.S. international forward for Norwich City, declined to play in the recent FA Cup match against Walsall due to transfer-related distractions.
Norwich City head coach Philippe Clement reiterated that the club will not sanction Sargent’s transfer during the January window, countering reports of interest from MLS’s Toronto FC.
The club secured a commanding 5-1 win against Walsall, largely propelled by Jovon Makama’s hat trick, advancing Norwich to the FA Cup fourth round.

In a development impacting Norwich City's squad dynamics, head coach Philippe Clement confirmed that American international Josh Sargent chose not to play in the Sunday FA Cup match against Walsall, citing the player’s preoccupation with transfer considerations.

Speaking after Norwich secured a comprehensive 5-1 win to advance to the fourth round, Clement detailed the circumstances surrounding Sargent’s unavailability. "On Saturday evening, Josh informed me via message that he would not be participating due to transfer issues on his mind," the coach explained. "This is clearly an undesirable situation from our perspective and will have consequences. We intend to deliberate internally regarding this matter."

Despite external speculation about a potential move to Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC during the January transfer window, Norwich City has firmly communicated to both the player and his representative that Sargent will not be transferred at this time, according to Clement.

Josh Sargent, aged 25, initially joined Norwich City in 2021 after transferring from Werder Bremen. Throughout the current season, he has contributed eight goals to the club’s campaign.

The club’s recent FA Cup match saw an impressive performance from Jovon Makama, who achieved a hat trick, facilitating a decisive victory over Walsall and the club’s subsequent progression in the tournament.

Risks
  • Sargent’s refusal to play introduces potential internal challenges within Norwich City’s squad management and team cohesion.
  • Transfer speculation and uncertainty around key players like Sargent may impact team performance and planning during a critical mid-season period.
  • The ongoing situation may affect Norwich City’s financial and strategic decisions in the player transfer market, influencing broader sports business considerations.
Disclosure
This article is based exclusively on statements made by Norwich City’s head coach Philippe Clement and publicly available match results. No additional sources were used, and no speculation beyond reported facts has been included.
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