Norwich City have officially announced the signing of forward Ali Ahmed from Vancouver Whitecaps for a reported fee of £1.4 million. This acquisition is set to enhance Norwich’s attacking options significantly as they prepare for their Championship match against Wrexham this Saturday. Read more about Norwich Target Irving as Transfer Window Closes.
The 25-year-old Ahmed has made a name for himself in Major League Soccer, drawing interest from several clubs, including Bundesliga side Schalke. Ultimately, he chose to join the Canaries, a decision influenced by the ambitious vision presented by Norwich’s head coach, Philippe Clement. Read more about Canaries Set for League Cup Opener as Season Kicks Off.
In a recent interview, Clement highlighted Ahmed's motivations, noting that financial considerations were not the primary factor in his choice. “He felt a lot of ambition in the talks also to become better, and that's why he chose this project instead of others where he could maybe earn more money or were in higher leagues or higher positions in the league,” Clement stated. “Those are the kind of players that I like who are ambitious and want to work every day to become better, and then he's going to have a really good future here. The most important thing was his hunger and his desire.” Read more about Sargent's Future Uncertain as Toronto FC Bid Looms.
Clement also praised Ahmed's defensive contributions, an essential aspect for success in the Championship. “He is also somebody who does his defensive job. It’s not only an attacking player, which is also important in this league,” he remarked. “He has a lot of good attributes. It’s now getting him up to pace. It’s a different league here, different playing style.”
Looking ahead, Clement expressed optimism regarding Ahmed's potential impact on the team's performance. “We know how we want to play, and I think he's going to be one of the guys who are going to help us to play the football that we want to play. He needs to work on scoring more goals. So we have different targets for him, also to become better that we saw, that we're convinced that, together, we can make him better.”
However, Norwich's current league standing presents challenges in attracting additional talent before the transfer window closes. Clement acknowledged these hurdles, stating, “Every detail has an importance. So of course, if you are lower in the league and teams are higher up the league, some players will say, ‘Okay, it's better to go there than to play relegation football for the moment.’”
He added, “It's about us also explaining them what the ambitions are for now, but also for the months and years to come, and how we want to build that. But it's, for sure, much easier if we would have been now in first position in the league. It's much easier to get players in.”
As Norwich City aim to improve their league position, the addition of Ali Ahmed could provide the necessary boost to their campaign. Ahmed's versatility and ambition may well be the catalyst the Canaries need to turn their fortunes around.