Norwich City have confirmed that winger Ali Ahmed is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after sustaining a serious knee injury during the club’s final pre-season fixture.
The 25-year-old suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the second half of Norwich’s 2-1 friendly defeat against La Liga side Osasuna at Carrow Road. Ahmed was forced off the pitch with medical assistance following a heavy fall.
Subsequent medical evaluations confirmed the extent of the damage, and the winger is scheduled to undergo surgery later this month. Head coach Philippe Clement expressed his disappointment over the setback, noting that the injury will likely rule Ahmed out for most, if not all, of the 2026/27 campaign.
In a touching display of solidarity, Norwich forward Mo Toure requested to swap his squad number for the upcoming season. With the club’s approval, Toure will switch from number 37 to number 21 to honor his close friend and teammate during his recovery process.
The setback comes shortly after an eventful summer for Ali, who represented Canada at the 2026 FIFA World Cup before spending time visiting Ethiopia, his country of heritage, prior to rejoining Norwich for pre-season training.
