The Vancouver Whitecaps have fallen off from their red-hot form from the start of the season, where they appeared to be the team to beat in the West. Ever since losing their top players in the CONCACAF Gold Cup for international duty, they have found themselves sliding down the standings in the West.
The Whitecaps needed a big-time move to add a playmaker in the midfield who can play forward and make plays in the final third.
They got all that in one in German legend Thomas Müller, who picked Vancouver over other MLS teams that had the jump on Müller and his release from his European club.
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A Battle for Discovery Rights
FC Cincinnati had the discovery rights for Thomas Muller if he ever decided that he was going to make a move to the MLS.
In Layman’s terms, this means that if an MLS team is interested in signing a player from abroad or from outside MLS, they can file what’s called a discovery claim on that player. This means that the team has priority to negotiate with him if he decides to come to the MLS.
When he announced he would move to the MLS, everyone figured he would go to Cincinnati, where he would compete and receive key minutes for one of the very best teams in the league.
Instead, he decided that he would go to a Canadian MLS side over any of the teams in America that were projected to get Muller over the Whitecaps.
Vancouver had to negotiate with Cincinnati to essentially waive their discovery rights so they could negotiate with Muller and get a deal done. Cincinnati could not get Muller to negotiate with them and sign a deal to their roster, forcing their hand in letting Vancouver take him.
Both teams are on opposite sides of the league, and they are both fighting for the Supporters’ Shield this season. If either team considered the other a rival, or they were both in the same conference, we could still be in negotiations over the discovery rights.
What Muller Adds to Vancouver
Muller adds a veteran’s presence to the midfield with younger stars in the MLS like Sebastian Berhalter, who has been a key piece to the Whitecaps’ midfield this season.
If Muller wants to play the mentor role with the young American, it could help improve the team in the long run.
Muller is a midfielder who was able to play forward when he needed to in key moments. He most likely won’t be starting the attack with his legs in his age-35 season.
The veteran will most likely sit in the center of the midfield formation and facilitate with his passing and positioning while the younger stars on the Whitecaps work around the veteran to form a consistent attack.
The addition of Muller gives this young team the veteran that they needed and a DP spot that was left open due to this transfer window.
Now is the time to make a move, and that’s exactly what the Whitecaps did as they pursue hardware late into the MLS season.
Main Photo
Credit IMAGO / Sven Simon
Recording Date 27.07.2025