German celebrity Thomas Müller joins Vancouver Whitecaps

[ad_1] The Vancouver Whitecaps' long-rumoured acquisition of German legend Thomas Müller has lastly grow to be a actuality.

The Whitecaps teased the announcement on social media, first posting a photograph exhibiting a Trans Canada Freeway signal pointing to "Vancoüver" with the caption "Right here we go," adopted in fast succession by a minute-long video during which Müller holds up his #13 Whitecaps jersey and states "Whitecaps, let's make historical past."

The longtime Bayern Munich star and World Cup champion has signed for the rest of the 2025 season with an possibility for 2026, and can formally be part of the roster pending receipt of his worldwide switch certificates, visa and work allow, based on the Whitecaps.

"I am excited to fulfill the group and my new teammates," mentioned Müller in a press release. "I feel everyone is aware of that the town of Vancouver could be very stunning, worldwide recognized, however, as properly, the Whitecaps are reaching for one thing particular this 12 months."

The Whitecaps sit one level behind San Diego FC for high spot within the Main League Soccer Western Convention standings with 10 regular-season video games remaining, six of these at house at B.C. Place.

Müller is scheduled to reach in Vancouver subsequent Wednesday, Aug. 13, along with his introductory media convention and first coaching session on the next day.

"On the pitch, he is among the most clever gamers that now we have proper now on this decade of soccer," mentioned Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster.

"He is received so many titles, actually each title you could win with the membership he was on. We have been joking that a couple of titles that he's nonetheless lacking are the Canadian Championship [and] MLS Cup."

<img loading="lazy" alt="A man with peppery dark hair sports a red team jersey." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7599378.1754507149!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2213314919.jpg?im=Resize%3D300 300w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7599378.1754507149!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2213314919.jpg?im=Resize%3D460 460w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7599378.1754507149!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2213314919.jpg?im=Resize%3D620 620w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7599378.1754507149!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2213314919.jpg?im=Resize%3D780 780w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7599378.1754507149!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2213314919.jpg?im=Resize%3D1180 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 300px,(max-width: 460px) 460px,(max-width: 620px) 620px,(max-width: 780px) 780px,(max-width: 1180px) 1180px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7599378.1754507149!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2213314919.jpg?im=" style="aspect-ratio:1.5108834827144686" data-cy="image-img"/> After a storied profession at Bayern Munich, Thomas Müller is becoming a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Photographs) The 35-year-old attacking midfielder has extra appearances than another participant at Bayern, main the membership to 2 UEFA Champions League titles and 13 Bundesliga titles, together with the championship this previous season.

Internationally, he has tallied 131 caps, 45 objectives and 41 assists for Germany, and helped his house nation win the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Müller mentioned conversations with ex-Bayern teammate and former Whitecap Alphonso Davies helped cement his resolution to come back to Vancouver.

"I talked to Alphonso. He instructed me a number of good issues concerning the metropolis and concerning the Whitecaps, so I used to be somewhat bit pumped," he mentioned.

The Müller announcement is one other excessive level in a stunning season that has seen the Whitecaps problem for high spot within the league and qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup remaining, the regional crown for the very best group in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Nonetheless, the way forward for the Whitecaps in Vancouver stays up within the air. Final 12 months, the house owners introduced they have been getting ready to promote the membership amid dissatisfaction with B.C. Place because the membership's house stadium.

In a press release Wednesday, Schuster mentioned the Whitecaps house owners — Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and Steve Nash — proceed to work on options for protecting the membership in Vancouver.

"With the discussions we had just lately a couple of new stadium challenge, and now with doing such a dedication signing, I feel we underline that what now we have mentioned already, that nothing is altering, we're persevering with to construct this membership," mentioned Schuster.