Cheikh Tidiane Sabaly has officially turned the page on his time at FC Metz. The Senegalese international forward has signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer until 2029, with an option for an additional season. It’s a bold choice, coming at a pivotal moment in his career, less than two years before the 2026 World Cup.
At 26, the player trained at Génération Foot ends an eight-season adventure with the Lorraine club. Wearing the Metz colors, Sabaly played 122 matches across all competitions (Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and Coupe de France), including 91 as a starter. He scored 21 goals and provided 11 assists. His most accomplished season was 2024-2025 in Ligue 2, where he finished as FC Metz’s top scorer with 15 goals and four assists, playing a key role in the club’s momentum.
The Vancouver Whitecaps have not hidden their satisfaction with this signing. Sporting director Axel Schuster praised the arrival of “an athletic and dynamic forward,” capable of playing both centrally and on the wings, highlighting his 19 decisive contributions during the promotion season to Ligue 1. Sabaly expressed his excitement about discovering North American football and his determination to help the Canadian club achieve its goals.
However, on the international stage, the timing of this transfer raises questions. During the 2025 AFCON, which Senegal won, the forward had to settle for a very secondary role, with only a few minutes of play and no real impact offensively. This situation reflects the fierce competition for his position.
Before the continental competition, Sabaly seemed to be gradually settling into the squad led by Pape Thiaw. In 12 appearances, he scored a stunning goal against England at Wembley (3-1 victory) and provided four assists in just 241 minutes of play. Encouraging stats, but not enough to secure a lasting place in the Senegalese starting eleven.
His move to MLS could complicate his situation with the national team even further. The offensive competition mainly plays in top European leagues, with players like Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Assane Diao (Como), and Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG), all exposed to a very high level of demand every week.
In this context, Cheikh Tidiane Sabaly’s decision to join a league considered less competitive raises eyebrows. With just months to go before the World Cup 2026 squad is announced, this move to North America looks like a risky gamble. Already struggling for playing time during the 2025 AFCON, the forward will now have to prove himself from afar, in a new environment, against increasingly fierce competition. At this point, the prospect of participating in the 2026 World Cup seems to be slipping away.
