1 month ago
22
Deal off
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US men’s national team striker Josh Sargent's return to the Bundesliga is off. While a deal to join VfL Wolfsburg was all but confirmed, that transfer has now surprisingly fallen apart. According to reports from Germany, the two clubs were unable to agree on a fee. But Transfermarkt also understands that the player side was also involved in the decision, with Sargent having other options as well this summer.
Everything seemed to be concluded with a €24 million fee, including the usual add-on, which was all agreed upon last week. Once completed, Sargent would have become the latest USMNT player to move for a transfer fee of more than €20m. Including add-ons, the Sargent deal would have matched what Real Betis’ midfielder Johnny Cardoso received from Atlético Madrid earlier this week to make him one of the ten most expensive USMNT players in history (overview). While the Wolfsburg deal is dead, Sargent is still expected to move for a significant fee this summer, which could see him end up among the list of most expensive US players in history.
Sargent’s transfer to Wolfsburg would have been his second stint in the Bundesliga. The 25-year-old center-forward moved to Germany as a teenager to join Werder Bremen’s academy. He then graduated to the first team during the 2018/19 season, scoring two goals in ten games. The following year was his breakthrough with Sargent scoring four goals and four assists in 28 Bundesliga games. The last season in Germany was interrupted by COVID and ended in Bremen’s relegation to the 2. Bundesliga. As one of the few sellable assets, Bremen was forced to sell Sargent for €9.5m to Norwich.
Josh Sargent to Wolfsburg – Increased market value by €9m since 2022
Sargent then struggled at first at Norwich, scoring just twice in 26 Premier League games. Indeed, finishing was also an issue during his first two years at Werder Bremen. But his goalscoring contributions have improved over the last three seasons in the Championship. In 2022/23, Sargent managed 13 goals in 40 league games, followed by 16 in 26 outings, and then 15 in 32 Championship matches the last season. As a result, Sargent has increased his market value from a low €7m in 2022 to now €16m.
Now, a return to the Bundesliga is off, at least for now. Wolfsburg wanted to make him the centerpiece of a newly put-together attack. Indeed, Wolfsburg had a disappointing season last year and fired head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl. Owned by Volkswagen, the club has high ambitions and has been looking for a steady goalscorer for some time. Sargent was considered that missing piece, but the Autostädter will now have to look elsewhere.
