Senegal international Cheikh Sabaly is on the verge of a move to Major League Soccer, with FC Metz close to agreeing a deal that would see the attacking midfielder join Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada.
With his contract due to expire next June, Metz appear increasingly resigned to the prospect of selling the 25-year-old rather than risking his departure on a free transfer.
According to joint reports from Foot Mercato, negotiations between the Ligue 1 club and their MLS counterparts are at an advanced stage and nearing a conclusion.
Talks are currently centred on a transfer fee of around €1m. While Metz are still hoping to secure additional performance-related bonuses, the player’s contractual situation has reduced their negotiating leverage.
The club is therefore expected to accept a lower guaranteed fee in order to secure immediate compensation.
Sabaly’s potential departure marks a significant moment for Metz, who are balancing sporting considerations against financial reality.
Allowing the Senegalese international to leave now would provide short-term relief, even if the final figure falls well below previous valuations of the player.
The situation is made more striking by developments last summer, when Metz turned down a substantially higher offer from Middlesbrough.
The Championship side initially proposed a deal worth between €2.5m and €3m before returning with an improved bid of €4m, including bonuses. At the time, Metz opted to retain Sabaly, believing he could play a key role in their plans.
That decision now appears costly. With only months remaining on his contract, Metz are preparing to accept a fee potentially four times lower than what was previously available.
The shift reflects the harsh realities of contract management, particularly for clubs seeking to protect their assets while remaining competitive.
For Sabaly, the move would represent a new chapter in his career and a first experience outside European football.
A switch to MLS would offer a different sporting environment, while providing Vancouver Whitecaps with an attacking player approaching the peak years of his career.
As discussions progress, the deal is expected to be finalised soon, bringing an end to Sabaly’s time at Metz and closing a transfer saga shaped as much by timing as by ambition.
