Bayern Munich and German national team legend Thomas Müller has completed his transfer to the Vancouver Whitecaps, the MLS team announced on Wednesday.
Müller, who set a record with 756 appearances for Bayern and scored 250 goals, had been linked to several MLS teams after his departure from the Bundesliga club was confirmed in April.
I am looking forward to coming to Vancouver to help this team win a championship. I have heard fantastic things about the city, but above all, I come to win.
Thomas Müller
The footballer added that he has had great conversations with the CEO and sporting director of the Whitecaps, Axel Schuster, and with coach Jesper Sørensen, and is now eager to play in front of the fans and see all the fans at BC Place as they head to the playoffs.
To sign Müller, the Whitecaps made a deal with FC Cincinnati to acquire the player’s discovery rights for $300,000 in general allocation money, plus an additional $100,000 if certain conditions are met.La leyenda alemana y del Bayern Múnich, Thomas Müller, continuará su carrera en la MLS. Stefan Matzke – sampics/Getty ImagesAccording to MLS rules, once another team puts a player on its discovery list, no other team in the league can negotiate with that player.
Although Cincinnati had the exclusive right to negotiate with Müller, a source reported that the player rejected an offer to join the club in April.
Now, Müller will join the Canadian team in the middle of the MLS season with the hope of reaching the playoffs. The Whitecaps are in second place in the Western Conference standings with 45 points in 24 matches and have a record of 13 wins, 5 losses, and 6 draws.
The Whitecaps also reached the final of the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this year, before falling to Cruz Azul 5-0.
Thomas is a world-class player, the ultimate “space interpreter”, known for his elite chance creation, his unmatched spatial awareness, and his relentless off-the-ball movement. He not only brings a winning pedigree and exceptional football intelligence, but also a tireless work ethic that will elevate the entire team. Thomas is a natural leader whose passion for the game is contagious. This is an important signing for our club and our owners, a transformative moment for our club and our city. We are proud to welcome Thomas to Vancouver.
Müller left the Bundesliga after winning 13 league titles and two Champions League trophies with Bayern. He also earned 131 caps for his country, winning the World Cup in 2014, before retiring from international football last year.
