Which CanMNT 🇨🇦 star has made BEST TRANSFER of January (so far)? 👀

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With the calendar shift towards 2026 officially in the rearview mirror, the reality has started to set in - it’s officially a World Cup year. 

In five months, the CanMNT will kick off their World Cup journey against a European side at BMO Field on June 12th, marking a historic moment for this team, one that they’ve long been waiting for. 

Before then, however, this Canadian side has plenty of work still to do, as they look to determine the squad that will represent their country in the opening game and for the rest of the tournament. 

WORLD CUP YEAR ✅ pic.twitter.com/TtgJaBV0a5

— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) January 1, 2026

With several races for starting spots and places in the squad coming down to the wire, players are well aware of how crucial the next few months will be for them, as it’ll be imperative that they maintain a good level of form, while staying healthy, to give themselves their best shot at achieving their respective goals. No matter if that’s to play a significant role in the tournament, to earn minutes, or just to be in the squad, each player knows that they’ve got lots of work to do. 

As a result, it’s unsurprising to see that World Cup year urgency has already manifested itself in the form of some big movement off the field, with several CanMNT players finding new homes in recent weeks. Knowing that a change of scenery can be a good way to hit a new level of play, some key regulars have sought out new challenges, with the hope that they can further elevate themselves at their new destinations. 

Here’s a closer look at some of the moves that have already gone down in recent weeks, as well as some that are still in the works. 

Ali Ahmed → Norwich City (Confirmed)

We've completed the signing of Canadian international Ali Ahmed on a deal until the summer of 2029 ✍️

— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) January 4, 2026

After years of rumours, Ali Ahmed is finally heading to Europe, joining Championship side Norwich City from the Vancouver Whitecaps on a transfer worth a minimum of 2 million euros. 

At first glance, this move is a surprise - while Ahmed has long been linked to sides in Europe, most of his interest has centred around a potential move to a club in the top five leagues.

https://x.com/onesoccer/status/1884438149188710520?s=20

Because of that, it is a bit of a shock to see him join a side currently sitting 22nd out of 24 teams in England’s second division, especially when considering that he is leaving a Whitecaps side that was one of the best in MLS in 2025, losing in the final of the Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS Cup playoffs but winning a fourth straight Canadian Championship. Given his importance to that Whitecaps side, with whom he scored four goals and added 12 assists in 2025 (smashing the career total of four goals and one assist he had heading into this season), you had to wonder if he’d have considered sticking around at the only club he’s played at professionally.

Here's Ali Ahmed's percentile chart from the 2025 MLS season. As seen here, he was an excellent chance creator and dribbler, but also impressed defensively. His goalscoring will be an area of focus, though (FBRef)

Ultimately, though, Ahmed has long professed a desire to test the waters in Europe, and while this opportunity isn’t the one he’ll have expected to make, there are some positives about this move. 

Namely, it’s worth noting that he’s joining a club with a good pedigree, as Norwich aren’t that far removed from being a Premier League ‘yo-yo’ club, one that would reliably bounce between England’s top two flights. They haven’t been in the Premier League since 2021-2022, unfortunately, but they spent six seasons in the top flight between 2011-2012 and 2021-2022, giving an idea of their stature. 

Because of that, it’s expected that they start pushing up the table again, after finishing 13th, sixth and 13th in the Championship in the last three seasons since that latest relegation. 

Of course, for Ahmed, in the short term, he won’t be thinking about the Premier League, which is a pipe dream for this season, given the slow start Norwich have had - one that cost manager Liam Manning his job, leading to the appointment of Philippe Clement at the end of 2025. 

Namely, Ahmed has two short-term goals, ones that will determine how successful this move is for him. 

Firstly, he must secure a good role with his new side. Having taken the risk to walk away from a Whitecaps team where he was a nailed-on starter in excellent form, he’ll want to prove that he can find a similar role in his new team. If he does that, he’ll be in good shape - the Championship is ranked as the sixth strongest league per OPTA, with MLS ranked 11th. 

Plus, with Norwich having a lack of wingers on their squad - they’ve played a cast of different players on the wing as of late, with none of their players who are actually listed as wingers on Transfermarkt sitting with more than 1000 minutes this season - Ahmed should theoretically get the chance to hit the ground running, which will help his case for more minutes. 

Given how much he improved in becoming more direct on the ball and in his decision-making as a winger this year, finding a way to maintain that will be key to any success he has in his adaptation.

Here's Ahmed's 2025 chart compared to his 2024 numbers - as seen here, he was a solid dribbler and chance generator before, but really took a big step forward in his final output. Perhaps that shows that more goals could be in his future if he makes similar improvements on that side of his game (FBRef)

Secondly, Ahmed and Norwich City must avoid relegation. With the strength of the Championship, staying there long-term is not a problem for Ahmed - either he can carve out a role as a league regular, help his side earn a promotion to the Premier League, or get a move to a bigger league, which are all great options for his long-term development. 

But if he drops into League One, which is a bit of a drop off from the Championship and MLS, that’s a big worry, especially when considering that he’s signed a long-term deal with Norwich, as you would certainly wonder why he left the Whitecaps to join such a situation. 

Yet, that’s the true beauty of a move like this for Ahmed - at the very least, he’ll push himself to compete in an ultra-competitive, cutthroat environment, as he tries to help his team stay up. Given the way he’s proven to be capable of thriving in a similar environment, such as the CanMNT, where he’s become a regular starter despite stiff competition out wide, you’d back him on that quest.

Jacob Shaffelburg → LAFC (Confirmed)

Jacob Shaffelburg is Black & Gold.

📝 #LAFC acquires forward Jacob Shaffelburg from Nashville SC in exchange for General Allocation Money (GAM) in 2026 and 2027.

➡️ https://t.co/oiOhRXl946 pic.twitter.com/OqzAVefiwg

— LAFC (@LAFC) December 29, 2025

In a bit of a surprise move, Jacob Shaffelburg is heading to the West Coast after spending parts of four seasons with Nashville SC, as he was traded to LAFC for $1 million in GAM and a sell-on clause. 

Yet, this appears to be a move that works well for all parties involved, as Nashville gets to move a player that hadn’t fit as well under current coach B.J. Callaghan, LAFC gets a player that should fit in well with their style of play, and Shaffelburg gets a fresh start under a Canadian head coach in Marc Dos Santos, who was promoted to LAFC bench boss from assistant coach this offseason. 

Despite not fitting as well in Nashville’s system in 2025 as he did in 2022, 2023 and 2024, Shaffelburg’s output was still similar - he had four goals and three assists across all competitions in 2025, which is similar to the 5G/4A he had in 2024, 4G/4G in 2023 and 2G/0A in 2022.

Here are Shaffelburg's numbers from 2024 to 2025 - despite not fitting his team's system as much this season, he still showed improvement in certain areas, even if he was lacking the confidence he appeared to have in 2024 (FBRef)

Unfortunately, though, his lack of fit at the club level seemed to impact him for the CanMNT - after scoring five goals and adding one assist for Canada in 2024, he failed to score or assist for his country in 2025. 

Because of that, he’ll hope that he can find some more consistency playing for LAFC in 2026, which should, in turn, secure his spot on the 2026 World Cup squad, and potentially throw his name back into the mix for a starting role. 

Now, though, it remains to be seen where he fits in on this LAFC team. With Nashville, he primarily played on the left wing, but at LAFC, that role is obviously occupied by Denis Bouanga, who is one of the best players in MLS, full stop. Plus, at times, LAFC played with a front two of just Bouanga and Heung-Min Son, who joined the team last season, giving the team another potential MLS MVP-level player in attack - sticking with that two-player attacking setup would hurt Shaffelburg’s chances of earning a starting role. 

For Shaffelburg, this means two things - he’ll either have to hope that Dos Santos persists with the 3-4-3 that Steve Cherundolo mostly used at the end of last year, or switch the 4-3-3 he’s used at past jobs, such as his stint with the Vancouver Whitecaps; if not, Shaffelburg will have to settle for being a super sub.

When looking at Shaffelburg's 2025 numbers, LAFC will be intrigued by his ability to generate xG and xA, especially when considering what he could do alongside Bouanga and Son (FBRef)

Plus, even if LAFC stays with a front three, competition is fierce for spots alongside Bouanga and Son, as David Martínez, Nathan Ordaz and Jeremy Ebobisse will all compete for minutes, so it’s not as if Dos Santos’s formation choice will solely dictate Shaffelburg’s outcome, either. 

The good news, though, is that at a club of LAFC’s stature, who tends to make deep runs in most of their competitions, there will be plenty of minutes to go around for everyone, so the goal for Shaffelburg will be to earn at least 1500 minutes while producing similar output to what he generated in Nashville. If he does that, while finding a bit more of a rhythm than what he had in 2025 (meaning he’s getting a good chunk of those minutes from starts), he should be in a decent spot out on the West Coast.

Jayden Nelson → Austin FC (Confirmed)

A Canadian International and rising star in MLS. 🇨🇦

Welcome to the 512, Jayden Nelson! pic.twitter.com/fICEw1fdCj

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) December 18, 2025

Locked in a battle to earn a spot in the CanMNT squad, Jayden Nelson made it clear to the Vancouver Whitecaps that he needed a change of scenery to help his odds of making that team, and his wish was granted when he was sent to Austin FC for $1.25 million in GAM and a Super Draft pick. 

This wasn’t an easy move to make for Nelson, who enjoyed his time at the Whitecaps, but his move is a clear example of what a World Cup year means for a player. Given that he’s only 23, in most years, you have to think he would’ve stuck it out at the Whitecaps for another season, given how good they were last year, as that would’ve been a favourable situation for his long-term development. 

Unfortunately, though, in the short term, his path towards minutes wasn’t as clear as he’d have liked, even despite the departure of Ahmed from his position. With Ryan Gauld, Emmanuel Sabbi and Kenji Cabrera all battling for minutes, Nelson would’ve been in tough to find the regular opportunities he’ll feel he needs to stay in the CanMNT squad. 

He should get those minutes in Austin, however, as they’ll gladly welcome a player of his calibre to their team. A team that sits back and likes to hit on the counter under head coach Nico Estévez, that should suit Nelson’s talents, as he didn’t always get the chance to stretch the field as much for a Whitecaps team that dominated possession and faced a steady dose of low defensive blocks in 2025. 

Given that Nelson’s 2025 tally of three goals and 10 assists would’ve immediately put him second on Austin’s output in terms of goal contributions, he doesn’t just fit this team - he will also elevate a side that was bottom-five in goals scored last year.

Jayden Nelson's chart does a great job of showing what he did well in 2025 - take on players, and create chances. Doing that at his new club is key, along with improving his defensive game and finishing (FBRef)

Ideally, he continues to be a dribbling machine that takes defenders on with ease, using that 1v1 ability to feed forwards Myrto Uzuni and Brandon Vazquez (although Vazquez probably won’t play until the middle of the season after suffering a long-term knee injury). From there, Nelson will want to have a bit more of a finishing touch than he had at the Whitecaps, given Austin’s need for more goals. 

If he does all of that while maintaining a solid level of defensive play, you have to think he’ll be in a good position when it comes to his CanMNT ambitions, as head coach Jesse Marsch is a big fan of his style of play, which is why he called him up on several occasions last year. Because of that, when it comes to all of these moves made by CanMNT players, this one might be the move that raises a player's stock the most. 

Dayne St. Clair → Inter Miami (Confirmed)

Welcoming the 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Dayne St. Clair, to Miami ✨🏝️

➥ https://t.co/h9n29kr3S2 pic.twitter.com/TkYoxViKAI

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) January 4, 2026

In a surprise decision, the reigning 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Dayne St. Clair decided to channel his inner LeBron James, as he’s taking his talents to South Beach(ish) in 2026. 

After spending parts of six seasons with Minnesota United, where he blossomed into one of the best goalkeepers in MLS and a potential CanMNT #1 starter, St. Clair decided to forego more money to sign with the defending MLS Cup champions, in a move that immediately elevates the pedigree of an already stacked team led by Lionel Messi. 

As great as Inter Miami were in 2025, however, one of their few weaknesses was in goal, which cost them at times. With St. Clair, though, he should help them massively with that - he was second in MLS in goals prevented with +9.7 (via FBRef), and led the league in save percentage with 76.3% (via FotMob), as he was a force in goal for Minnesota United.

As seen here, Dayne St. Clair's shotstopping numbers were among the best in MLS in 2025 (FBRef)

Now, though, what’s worth monitoring is the style Inter Miami ends up deploying in 2026. With Minnesota, St. Clair got to play like more of an old-school goalkeeper, one that didn’t have to stray far from his goal line, as they played an ultra-defensive system where they didn’t hold a lot of the ball and hit teams on the counter. 

Typically, Inter Miami has been more of a high-possession team, which would be a big departure from what St. Clair is used to, testing his ability to sweep and come off his line. At the same time, there’s also a chance that Miami strays from that approach in 2026 - they started to keep less of the ball as the MLS Cup playoffs went on, becoming more of a transitional team, and that approach suited them quite well en route to them winning their first MLS Cup. 

Perhaps St. Clair’s acquisition suggests that they could be ready to lean on that more pragmatic approach more this season, in a move that allows them to build off their postseason success, while helping make St. Clair’s transition more seamless. 

Either way, no matter how Miami plays, the pressure will be on St. Clair with this move. Given that there were rumblings that he could test the waters in Europe (although it would’ve been hard to see him making such a move as a goalkeeper midseason), and that he took less money from what Minnesota offered to head to Miami, he’ll need to prove that this move is what he needs to further elevate his game. 

On a Miami side expected to win (or at least come close) every competition they play in, there will also be a lot of internal pressure on St. Clair, but this could be what he needs to secure his spot as the CanMNT’s #1 goalkeeper - should he meet the challenges set out for him at his new club.

Maxime Crépeau → Orlando City (To be confirmed)

Surprisingly, St. Clair isn’t the only prospective CanMNT starter heading to Florida as a free agent this winter, as Maxime Crépeau looks set to head to Inter Miami’s rivals, Orlando City. 

🇨🇦 Sources: Orlando City finalizing deal to sign free agent GK Maxime Crepeau. @FabrizioRomano 1st.

Crepeau, 31, has 29 caps with Canada. pic.twitter.com/GyAFsC5WTM

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 31, 2025

Despite the obvious irony of Crépeau, who has been battling St. Clair for the CanMNT’s starting role, heading to join St. Clair’s rival team, this should be a good move when peeling back the curtains. 

With the departure of the excellent Pedro Gallese, Crépeau’s arrival should ensure that the hole that Gallese left isn’t too big - at his best, Crépeau was one of the best goalkeepers in MLS at the start of this decade. 

Unfortunately, after shining at LAFC, a move to the Portland Timbers didn’t work out the way Crépeau wanted, as head coach Phil Neville never seemed to like his style of play, leading him to replace him as a starter with fellow Canadian James Pantemis. As a result, Crépeau was looking for a new opportunity this winter, and he’s found that at Orlando City. 

After a mixed season for Orlando, who made the playoffs but fell in the Wild Card round, Crépeau will hope that his winning pedigree as a past MLS Cup champion can help Orlando make the sort of deep run in the playoffs they’ve often struggled to make despite having good sides. 

Now, the question that Crépeau will face is what version he brings to Orlando. Is it the 2025 version that lost his spot at Portland, having allowed -1.7 goals above expected (FBRef)? Or is it the 2022 version that helped LAFC win an MLS Cup?

Here are Crépeau's 2025 numbers compared to 2022, showing the level of play he'll aspire to return to in Orlando (FBRef)

He still has that top level in him and continues to flash it for Canada, but that version only came out in glimpses in Portland, so his big goal will be to find some more consistency in 2026, helping keep his bid for the CanMNT’s starting role alive. 

Stylistically, it’ll be interesting to see how he adapts to a team that doesn’t hold a lot of the ball under Óscar Pareja, as he’s at his best in a system that allows him to play aggressively off his line and sweep balls, but perhaps his arrival allows his team to be more aggressive defensively. 

Plus, he’s also proven that he can play in a more defensive system, too - one of his best-ever statistical seasons was behind a cautious Vancouver Whitecaps team in 2021 - so he should also be pretty tactically flexible, in theory. 

Ultimately, there have been signs that the Portland Timbers have been a heavily flawed team under Neville, especially defensively, so it’ll be up to Crépeau to prove that his 2025 struggles were due to that environment and not any potential decline in his skills, and he should have the opportunity to do that at Orlando. 

Emil Gazdov → FC St. Pauli (Confirmed)

Bonne chance Emil 👊

🗞️ Le CF Montréal a prêté le gardien Emil Gazdov au club de Bundesliga FC St. Pauli jusqu’au 30 juin >>> https://t.co/ynPXFhz9e6

🗞️ CF Montréal has loaned Emil Gazdov to Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli until June 30 >>> https://t.co/P9hPiuj06Z#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/vuDLyaa6nZ

— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) January 4, 2026

Gazdov is an extreme long shot to make the 2026 World Cup squad, but it’s quite notable that the former Pacific FC goalkeeper, who only joined CF Montréal last year, is heading to a Bundesliga club on loan. 

He’s unlikely to play in Germany over the next few months, but considering that he’s just 22, this is a huge development opportunity for a high-potential goalkeeper, one who won the CPL’s Golden Glove award in 2024. 

If this move can open the doors for him to stick around in Europe, be it with St. Pauli (who also have an option to buy on this loan) or another club, or open the doors for him to become an MLS starter down the road, this can only be seen as a win for him. 

Because of that, while this move might not do much for his 2026 aspirations, unless he somehow earns a bunch of starts due to an injury, this sort of move could be massive for his long-term CanMNT ambitions.