Vancouver Whitecaps transfer Canadian midfielder Ali Ahmed to Norwich City

Canada's Ali Ahmed (20) and Honduras' Cristopher Melendez, right, vie for the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match in Vancouver, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have transferred Canadian midfielder Ali Ahmed to Norwich City of the English Championship.

The club announced the move Sunday, with sporting director and CEO Axel Schuster saying in a release that the 25-year-old Toronto product had made it clear to the club that “a contract extension would not be possible” because he wanted to play outside of Major League Soccer.

The ‘Caps did not say how much they will receive for the transfer, but did say the club will get an additional fee if he is moved in the future.

Ahmed played 22 regular-season games for the Whitecaps last season, contributing eight assists, then adding another three helpers across five MLS playoff games and scoring the club’s lone goal a 3-1 loss to Inter Miami in the MLS Cup final.

He was also a crucial piece in Vancouver’s Canadian Championship run, scoring three goals over three games as the club hoisted the Voyageurs Cup for the fourth year in a row.

The five-foot-11, 154-pound athlete has made 22 appearances for Canada’s men’s soccer team, contributing one goal and three assists. He was a finalist for 2025’s Canada Soccer men’s player of the year award, which ultimately went to Serie A forward Jonathan David.

Ahmed came up through Vancouver’s development squad and signed with the club’s MLS NEXT Pro side, Whitecaps FC 2, in 2022.

He made his MLS debut in April 2022 and has since seen action in 68 regular-season games, tallying three goals and nine assists.

Several European clubs expressed interest in Ahmed last summer, Schuster said, and clubs approached the Whitecaps again recently.

“We had to act in order to secure a transfer fee that would give us the flexibility to invest in the squad as we build for 2026 and beyond,” he said in a statement.

“Ali first joined us as a player who was seeking his opportunity outside the traditional pathway, and we are pleased that these years have been successful for both him and the club.

“We were able to develop Ali into a regular starter for the Canadian national team, as well as a player who consistently helped us in important matches. We are thankful to Ali for his time at the club and wish him all the best.”

This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press, was first published Jan. 4, 2026.