Thomas Müller Joins Vancouver Whitecaps: A New Chapter in MLS

After the expiration of his contract with Bayern Munich, which followed their quarter-final exit at the Club World Cup, Thomas Müller made the decision to join Major League Soccer (MLS) club Vancouver Whitecaps on a deal extending until December 31, 2025, with an option to extend for 2026.

Just under two months after his arrival from Bavaria, Müller celebrated victory in the Canadian Championship, where the Whitecaps triumphed over local rivals Vancouver FC with a score of 4-2 in the final. In doing so, he became the most decorated German footballer in history, amassing a total of 35 trophies, surpassing his former Bayern teammate and Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos.

Müller’s individual performances have been stellar; in 10 matches, the 2014 World Cup winner has netted nine goals and provided four assists.

When asked by Kicker if he plans to remain in Vancouver beyond 2025, Müller replied enthusiastically, “Yes – full attack.”

The Whitecaps are set to face rivals Los Angeles FC in the Eastern Conference semi-finals of the MLS Cup Playoffs this weekend. Reflecting on the significance of potentially securing more titles, Müller stated, “In the current context, it would mean a great deal; it’s my here and now. Above all, I’ve moved to a new league and a new country and would then have experienced an extraordinary team performance within a short period of time.

Consequently, I can say that I am very happy here and am having a lot of fun. But it is of course much more relaxed than in Munich or the rest of Germany.”

He emphasized that his move to the Whitecaps was not for “vacation,” stating that he is fully dedicated to performing well in the MLS. “It was very easy to jump in; they put me in good positions. They won a penalty for me in every game. For sure, you have to be ready for the competition, but I was not coming here for vacation. I wanted to do a serious job, and that was always my goal.

You never know in a different country, a new league, and a new team how long this process will last until you’re a real part of the team. However, I’ve always been able to adapt to situations quickly. I’ve adjusted my playing style in small ways often. It’s nothing special.”

Earlier this month, Bayern president Herbert Hainer revealed that discussions had taken place with Müller about a potential operational role at the club in the future following his departure. “After his departure was confirmed, Thomas Müller came to my office. I advised him in a personal conversation that if he later wanted a job in sports, he should move to MLS,” he told Abendzeitung.

“He can work operationally for us. He can become a brand ambassador. He could even succeed me one day. It is the wish of the fans and the club that former players take on a leadership role at Bayern Munich.”

This Sunday, the Vancouver Whitecaps will face Son Heung-min’s LAFC in the Conference semi-finals. However, Müller was quick to remind fans that Son has never managed to surpass him in their past encounters. “The problem is Sonny was a very good player in Hamburg and Leverkusen, but the teams weren’t on the same level,” he humorously clarified. “It’s maybe not really fair to judge or compare the situation now. We’re in two very good teams, and he’s a big player there and I’m a big player here, so it’s a little different.

When he was in Hamburg, our Bayern team always triumphed over them, often with scores like 8-2 or 9-1, but he was still a very talented young player at the time. It’s not the right discussion to look too far back.

If you go into the details, we know how good this team can be. However, if you look back at the last few weeks, they’ve been very reliant on Denis Bouanga and Son, so when they’re not scoring, it’s tough. It’s challenging to keep those two quiet, but if we can manage that, we have a good chance. For me, it’s just my first conference semi-final, and I’m confident we will beat them – that’s what I believe about this game.