Cheikh Sabaly: Senegal AFCON winner signs for Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Senegalese international forward Cheikh Sabaly has sealed a transfer move from French Ligue 1 side FC Metz to Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Sabaly agreed to a contract through the 2028-29 Major League Soccer season, with a club option for the 2029-30 season. The 26-year-old will officially join the club’s MLS roster pending receipt of his international transfer certificate, visa, work permit, and medical.

Speaking after putting pen to paper, Sabaly, said: “I’m very excited to join Vancouver Whitecaps FC. This will be my first experience playing in North America, and I can’t wait to help the team continue to compete for trophies by bringing my best on the pitch.

 

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“I’m really looking forward to meeting the fans at our home matches and giving everything I have for them.”

Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director, said on the decision to sign the Lion of Teranga: “Cheikh is an athletic, dynamic attacking player who last season helped his team with 19 goal participations to promote to Ligue 1.

“He has developed in highly competitive environments with Metz and the Senegal national team, and we believe the quality and experience he brings will make an immediate impact on our group. We are excited to welcome Cheikh to Vancouver.”

Sabaly has made 12 appearances for Senegal

Sabaly arrives in Vancouver after spending the last eight years with French side FC Metz. During that span, the forward started 91 of his 122 appearances across Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and Coupe de France competition, while scoring 21 goals and adding 11 assists.

His most prolific season with Metz came in the 2024-25 Ligue 2 season, when he finished as the club’s leading goalscorer and was fourth overall in the league with 15 goals, while adding four assists. Capable of playing out wide or up top, Sabaly also featured for FC Metz B, recording nine starts, five goals, as well as two assists.

During his time at Metz, Sabaly had three separate loan spells in France. He spent the 2021-22 Ligue 2 season with Quevilly-Rouen Métropole, starting 12 of his 18 appearances across all competitions and registering two goals as well as three assists.

In addition, Sabaly had two loan spells with Pau FC. In 2019-20, he recorded 12 goals and nine assists in 26 starts and 30 appearances as the team achieved promotion from the French third tier to Ligue 2.

 

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He then rejoined Pau for the following season, starting 18 matches and making 30 appearances in Ligue 2 while recording three goals along with four assists.

Prior to joining FC Metz, Sabaly came through the youth system at Senegalese side Académie Génération Foot, making four starts for the senior team after signing his first professional contract in 2017.

On the international stage, Sabaly has made 12 appearances for Senegal’s men’s national team, earning his first cap in August 2023 against Rwanda and scoring his lone goal for the Lions of Teranga in a 3-1 victory against England in June 2025.

Most recently, the forward helped his country win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, making two appearances as a substitute and tallying one assist in their 3-0 group stage victory over Botswana.

Sabaly becomes the second Senegalese-born player to join Whitecaps FC in the MLS era