Thomas Müller is preparing to call a new club home after spending 25 years with Bayern Munich. His next destination? The Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer.
The move to join Vancouver has been anything but simple. GIVEMESPORT’s Tom Bogert reported that one hiccup in the transfer has been Müller’s “Discovery Rights.”
If you’re not familiar with MLS transfers, Discovery Rights are essentially a team’s ability to “call dibs” on a player not currently playing in the league. Each club can claim up to five players.
Vancouver didn’t have Müller’s Discovery Rights. Instead FC Cincinnati had already claimed Müller, complicating the transfer of the German icon to Vancouver. The solution ended up being Vancouver paying FC Cincinnati $400,000 for Müller’s Discovery Rights.
Thomas Müller Vancouver Whitecaps transfer
BREAKING: The Vancouver Whitecaps are finalizing a deal to sign Thomas Müller, per sources.
Agreement in principle on discovery rights. @ManuelVeth 1st.Cincy will receive up to around $400k GAM for rights. Final steps/formalities.
w/ @JacobsBen https://t.co/NKWOVtXwlz
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) July 29, 2025
: Thomas Müller is on his way to the MLS, reports @tombogert ️
Vancouver Whitecaps are nearing a total agreement on personal terms with the free agent pic.twitter.com/BsXFusXEc7— 433 (@433) July 28, 2025
Müller’s contract with Bayern had expired with the 35-year-old playing his final games for the club during this summer’s 2025 Club World Cup. He’ll be joining a Vancouver side enjoying one their best season’s in years.
The club currently sit second in the Western Conference and made it all the way to the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this year. Now they will be receiving one of the greatest midfielders in history.
