Whitecaps appear set to lose Ali Ahmed

And there goes another one.

TSN reported Saturday morning that Ali Ahmed is set to sign with English Championship stragglers Norwich City.

As first reported by local Norwich news site Pink Un, the Canaries have been looking to add some attacking spice to their squad in their efforts to avoid relegation. Ahmed will be given every opportunity to help energize their attack on left wing.

TransferMarkt’s Manuel Veth reports the Whitecaps will receive a fee of more than $3 million.

Ahmed is the second Canadian national team left winger to move on in a month: Jayden Nelson was traded to Austin FC last month so that he’d have more opportunity to play before this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

With Ryan Gauld once again fully fit and Kenji Cabrera set to assume a bigger role, it was obvious that a guy like Nelson would struggle for minutes, but Ahmed’s leaving is a tough blow for the Whitecaps, even if it always seemed inevitable. He was already a transfer target last summer — German clubs were interested — and he has long had ambition to play in Europe.

At 25, he’d reached his full potential; last season he scored four goals and added 13 assists. But in sports, especially in soccer, nothing stays the same. He’s surely winning a big raise, something that would have been difficult for the Whitecaps to manage in a salary-cap environment. For all MLS’ ambitions to be a major world league, their salary structure continues to make it difficult to keep mid-tier domestic talent.

After Nelson left, Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster said he knew keeping Ahmed long term would mean he’d have to make other decisions in his squad. In the end, Ahmed’s desire to try his hand in Europe, plus a likely raise, won out. Ahmed was one of six players the Whitecaps received written offers for, so it’s possible another player or two may yet leave.

It’s a certainty that the bulk of Ahmed’s minutes will be given to Gauld, either as a proper left winger or in a reset formation. And as mentioned, Cabrera will play a bigger role in 2026.

Schuster also indicated last month he’s after another midfielder. No doubt that search will feel more pressing now.

pjohnston@postmedia.com