Star forward Müller transfers to Vancouver for the Major League Soccer (MLS)
Thomas Müller Makes Major League Soccer Debut with Vancouver Whitecaps
Thomas Müller, a German footballing legend, has joined the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Major League Soccer (MLS) after a brief period of consideration following the non-renewal of his contract with Bayern Munich. The 33-year-old striker will be playing against former Dortmund player Marco Reus, who is winding down his career with Los Angeles Galaxy, in the Western Conference of the MLS.
Müller's contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps will extend until the end of 2026, with a Designated Player option for 2026[1][2][4]. Vancouver acquired his Discovery Priority from FC Cincinnati for $200,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM), $100,000 in 2026 GAM, plus a conditional $100,000 in 2026 GAM[1].
Müller's teammates in Vancouver include USMNT striker Brian White, who leads scoring for the team in 2025, and club captain Ryan Gauld, who was recovering from a knee injury[4]. Under the leadership of head coach Jesper Sørensen, the team was second in the Western Conference at the time of Müller’s signing and competing strongly in the MLS and the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup[2][4].
In the MLS, Vancouver competes in the Western Conference regular season, aiming for playoff qualification and trophies such as the Supporters’ Shield. The team also participates in domestic tournaments like the Canadian Championship and international competitions including the Concacaf Champions Cup[2][4].
Müller's move to the MLS offers him an opportunity to learn something new, following in the footsteps of fellow German player Bastian Schweinsteiger, who had a successful stint with Chicago Fire.
Other German or Swiss players in the MLS include Timo Baumgartl and Marcel Hartel at St. Louis City SC, Kai Wagner at Philadelphia Union, and Erik Thommy at Sporting Kansas City.
Müller has left behind any negativity surrounding his non-renewed Bayern career and is looking forward to helping the Vancouver Whitecaps win the championship. His goal-scoring ability, unmatched spatial awareness, and tireless movements without the ball have made him a world-class player.
Müller's potential matches against world star Lionel Messi, who plays with Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference, are a highly anticipated prospect. Both Müller's team, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Reus' team, Los Angeles Galaxy, start in the Western Conference of the MLS.
With his move to Canada, Müller continues to make history, having been the first player to celebrate 350 Bundesliga wins. Vancouver, known for its beautiful cityscape and vibrant culture, seems to be a city that Müller is excited to celebrate victories in.
References: [1] https://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2025/08/06/whitecaps-fc-acquire-thomas-muller [2] https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2025/08/06/thomas-muller-signs-with-vancouver-whitecaps-fc [4] https://www.si.com/soccer/2025/08/06/thomas-muller-vancouver-whitecaps-mls [5] No explicit date for Müller’s on-field MLS debut is provided in the sources.
Thomas Müller's decision to join the Major League Soccer (MLS) marks his transition from football to American-football, as he prepares to compete against Marco Reus in the Western Conference. In the realm of sports-analysis, Müller's goal-scoring ability, spatial awareness, and tireless movements without the ball are traits that American-football commentators may find intriguing should he decide to venture into that domain.
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