MLS outfit Vancouver Whitecaps confirm Thomas Muller's signing on a two-year deal. The German international begins a new chapter in his career and will now face Lionel Messi in the league.
A new challenge for Muller. At 35, the veteran German, a legend for both his country and Bayern Munich, has embarked on a fresh adventure in MLS. The attacking midfielder joins the Vancouver Whitecaps – currently second in the Western Conference – on a two-year contract.
Despite rumours of imminent retirement, the German international has emphatically dismissed the notion, opting to continue his playing career. Thomas Muller's journey continues, and it will now include league encounters against Lionel Messi.
MLS has long been an objective for Muller, and just days ago, he teased his next destination. While not explicitly stated, his social media video provided a clear hint. It featured Muller, his father Gerhard, and brother Simon – all sporting cowboy hats – with the caption: "It's time to make the big leap across the Atlantic".
Several clubs expressed significant interest in the German's signature, including Los Angeles FC. The Los Angeles outfit initially led the chase, but the Vancouver Whitecaps ultimately pipped them to the post.
However, the Canadian club faced a complication: they had to negotiate with Cincinnati for the player. This was because the Ohio-based side held Discovery Rights, a mechanism allowing a club to reserve a player and gain priority if they join the league.
Cincinnati had acquired these rights after making an offer for Muller in late April, which was subsequently rejected.
Consequently, Cincinnati – chaired by Jeff Berding and having Muller already registered on their Discovery List – retained a portion of his rights. This obliged the Whitecaps to negotiate for these rights. Journalists Tom Bogert and Ben Jacobs reported the compensation to be $400,000.
Thus, Muller embarks on a new challenge, having spent his entire career coming through the ranks at Bayern. He joined the club in 2000 at the age of 10, made his first-team debut in the 2008-09 season, and concluded his tenure in the 2023-24 season.
His remarkable Bayern career spanned 17 seasons, yielding 250 goals and 235 assists in 756 matches. He departs as the player with the most appearances in the Bavarian club's history and their third-highest scorer. MLS awaits.