German soccer legend Thomas Müller is set to join MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps, Fabrizio Romano reported on Tuesday. The details of the deal have yet to be revealed.
Tom Bogert of GiveMeSport previously connected the 35-year-old to Vancouver, and reported that the Whitecaps agreed in principle to acquire Müller’s “discovery rights” from FC Cincinnati before closing the deal.
According to GiveMeSport, Cincinnati will receive $400,000 in guaranteed allocated money after letting go of Müller’s rights, which allowed the club to negotiate with players. Cincinnati reportedly tried to sign Müller earlier in the summer but failed to reach a deal due to the lack of a designated player spot. Since he would not be a DP, Cincinnati could only offer Müller under $2 million, which he did not accept.
Müller will not be a designated player upon his arrival in Vancouver but will become one the following season.
His MLS move comes after Müller spent 25 years with German giants Bayern Munich. Müller arrived at the club in 2000 and spent seven years of his youth career there before playing for the second team from 2007 to 2009. He then joined the first team and helped them win 12 Bundesliga titles.
Before his last game for the club, Müller released a statement about his departure, while clarifying that he is not retiring.
Apart from the domestic titles, Müller won two Champions Leagues and two Club World Cup titles with Bayern Munich. With Germany, he won the 2012 UEFA Euros and 2014 FIFA World Cup.
In 756 total appearances for Bayern Munich, Müller tallied 250 goals and provided 276 assists. He also has 45 goals for Germany and won the Golden Boot at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.