2 months ago
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Deal imminent
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US men’s national team striker Josh Sargent is set to return to the Bundesliga. Transfermarkt can confirm reports by Kicker, Gegenpressing, The Athletic, and several outlets that Sargent is now set to join VfL Wolfsburg. Although a deal is not yet 100% completed, Sargent has now informed Norwich of his desire to join Wolfsburg.
The fee is understood to be €24, including the usual add-on. Once completed, Sargent will become the latest USMNT player to move for a transfer fee of more than €20m. Including add-ons, Sargent will match the transfer fee paid for Real Betis’ midfielder Johnny Cardoso by Atlético Madrid earlier this week to make him one of the ten most expensive USMNT players in history (overview).
It will be Sargent’s 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 beckons, where Wolfsburg want 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 is that missing piece, which explains the club’s significant investment in the forward.
