Vancouver Whitecaps pick up Senegalese forward Sabaly from FC Metz

Senegal's Cherif Ndiaye, left, and Cheikh Sabaly celebrate after a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Senegal and Botswana in Tangier, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired Senegalese forward Cheikh Sabaly from French side FC Metz.

The Major League Soccer team announced the move Thursday, saying in a release that the 26-year-old player has agreed to a contract through the 2028-29 season with a club option for the following year.

He will be added to the roster after the ‘Caps receive his international transfer certificate, visa, work permit and medical.

Sabaly has spent the last eight years with FC Metz, making 122 appearances in Ligue 1, Ligue 2 and Coupe de France games.

He’s scored 21 goals and 11 assists across that span, including 15 goals and four assists over the 2024-25 campaign, where he finished as the club’s leading goal scorer.

The five-foot-six, 130-pound athlete has also made 12 appearances for Senegal’s national team, recording one goal and four assists, and helped the country win last year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

“Cheikh is an athletic, dynamic attacking player who last season helped his team with 19 goals (contributions) to promote to Ligue 1,” Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement.

“He has developed in highly competitive environments with Metz and the Senegal national team, and we believe the quality and experience he brings will make an immediate impact on our group. We are excited to welcome Cheikh to Vancouver.”

The Whitecaps are currently holding their training camp in Marbella, Spain, and are set to play their first game of the year Feb. 18 when they visit Costa Rican side C.S. Cartaginés in CONCACAF Champions Cup play.

Vancouver will begin the MLS season at home against Real Salt Lake on Feb. 21.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 5, 2026.