Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller is in advanced talks to join the Vancouver Whitecaps this summer. The 35-year-old World Cup winner, who is a free agent, recently announced in a video that his next move would be “across the pond.”
The potential transfer is contingent on the Whitecaps acquiring Müller’s MLS “discovery rights” from FC Cincinnati. According to sources, Cincinnati, which previously negotiated with Müller’s representatives last winter, is seeking a fee similar to the $400,000 the LA Galaxy paid Charlotte FC for Marco Reus’s rights.
Initially, Müller was reportedly seeking a Designated Player contract, a demand FC Cincinnati could not accommodate due to roster limitations. However, he is now expected to sign with Vancouver on a non-Designated Player deal, potentially valued around the maximum Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) level of approximately $750,000 for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Müller’s arrival would provide a significant midseason boost to a Whitecaps team currently sitting second in the Western Conference. After a strong start to the season, which included eliminating Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami from the Concacaf Champions Cup, the club is poised for a strong playoff push.
The German forward would be the most high-profile signing in Whitecaps history. While Canadian rivals like Toronto FC and CF Montréal have previously invested heavily in international stars, Vancouver has not landed a player of Müller’s stature. The move would reunite Müller with his former Bayern teammate Alphonso Davies, whom the Whitecaps developed before his transfer to the German club. Müller is famously credited with coining Davies’ “Road Runner” nickname.
During his 16-year career with Bayern Munich, Müller became the club’s all-time appearance leader, scoring 250 goals and providing 223 assists. He won 33 major trophies, including 13 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League crowns. With the German national team, he won the Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup and the tournament itself in 2014.
If the deal is completed, Müller will be the second World Cup winner to join MLS during the summer transfer window, following Inter Miami’s signing of Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.
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