Thomas Müller says his skills speak for themselves. The most important thing he wants Vancouver Whitecaps supporters to find out about his transfer to the Major League Soccer club is that he’s “fully into it.”
The Whitecaps pulled off the most important signing in club history, adding the 2014 World Cup champion and longtime Bayern Munich star to a club that has spent the complete season pushing for top spot within the Western Conference.
“They (fans) can expect that I’m at all times 100 per cent,” Müller said in a video provided by the club. “You may watch my skills in YouTube videos or several TV shows, but you’ll be able to expect that I’m fully into it. And for me, that’s crucial part.”
The club announced the move Wednesday. While a dollar figure was not disclosed, Müller has signed for the rest of the 2025 season with a Designated Player option for 2026.
Müller is anticipated to reach in Vancouver next Wednesday, together with his first training session set for Thursday.
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Müller helped lead Germany to the 2014 World Cup title, scoring five goals within the tournament. He had also won the Golden Boot on the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, ending with five goals and three assists.
He’ll occupy a world roster slot and is anticipated to take considered one of the club’s vacant spots on the season-ending injury list, pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC), visa and work permit.
The 35-year-old attacking midfielder got here up through Bayern Munich’s academy and spent 17 years with the German Bundesliga side.
He scored 250 goals for Bayern across all competitions and helped the team to 13 league championships, but his contract was not renewed after last season.
“Our approach was only going after the football player Thomas Müller, and never his big name, his brand, his famous face,” Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a video.
“We desired to persuade him in the world that excites him essentially the most,” Schuster added. “He loves this game a lot, and he desires to proceed because he desires to play the sport.
“The whole lot else got here for us second, and we only began that after he said ‘Yes, I’m in.’”
Müller talked with former teammate Alphonso Davies concerning the club and the town after deciding to make the move to Vancouver. Davies, a star player with Bayern and captain of Canada’s national team, began his profession as a youngster with the Whitecaps before joining the German powerhouse in January 2019.
“He told me quite a lot of good things concerning the city and the Whitecaps,” said Müller. “So I used to be somewhat bit pumped, but the choice was made.
“I didn’t need Alphonso’s opinion, however it was essential for me simply to double-check.”
To finish the signing, the Whitecaps acquired Müller’s MLS discovery rights from FC Cincinnati in exchange for as much as $400,000 in General Allocation Money.
He joins a Whitecaps (13-5-6) team that has spent much of the Major League Soccer season hovering across the top of the Western Conference standings.
Under first-year head coach Jesper Sorensen, the club has exceeded expectations this yr, not only in league play, but by making it to the ultimate of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they fell 5-0 to LIGA MX side Cruz Azul.
Müller said he’s looking forward to working with Sorensen.
“He has an amazing mindset,” Müller said. “You’re feeling it while you talk with him. He’s very clear what he wants.”
Müller is the most recent international star to make the jump to MLS.
Argentine forward Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 following an extended profession with Barcelona and a stint at Paris Saint-Germain. The 38-year-old currently leads MLS in scoring with 18 goals on the season.
English midfielder David Beckham was considered one of the primary European stars to maneuver to MLS. He signed with the L.A. Galaxy in 2007 after playing for top clubs similar to Manchester and Real Madrid, and won the MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012.
Beckham stays involved with the league as an owner of Inter Miami.
© 2025 The Canadian Press