The Vancouver Whitecaps’ German sporting director, Axel Schuster, is “nonetheless processing” the completion of Thomas Muller’s transfer to the MLS membership – and has defined why footballing luminaries such because the Germany legend, Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min have moved to the US.
“The final meters felt like endlessly,” mentioned Schuster, offering the within story of negotiations with the 35-year-old Bayern Munich report look maker.
“Not as a result of anyone was creating issues, however as a result of drafting and getting the appropriate wording and language for everyone collectively is sophisticated.
“We haven’t mentioned any numbers for greater than two weeks. It was actually about the appropriate language for all events.
“When it occurred, my spouse (contacted) me and I mentioned ‘actually, I’m not but there the place I perceive it.’ Ask me subsequent week, once I’m sitting on stage with him.”
The person. The parable. The legend.
Get to know your latest ‘Cap in @esmuellert_introduced by @TELUS. 🎙️ #VWFC x #TM13 pic.twitter.com/mWxyEhlyEp
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) August 7, 2025
How Vancouver signed Thomas Muller
With Cincinnati proudly owning Discovery Rights to Muller – an MLS rule permitting a membership the appropriate to signal a participant in the event that they wish to transfer to their nation – Vancouver, who have been put up on the market within the low season and have one of many decrease wage payments within the US, have been initially an extended shot to make Muller their marquee identify.
Schuster helped, having met Muller and established a relationship along with his brokers, Ludwig Kogl and Christian Romberg, throughout his time in administration roles with German golf equipment Mainz and Schalke.
“There was quite a lot of chatter about him coming to the MLS, and different golf equipment have been concerned on the time,” Schuster recalled of the mid-season transfer, by way of the Whitecaps.
“I comply with a number of podcasts in Germany and, studying German newspapers on the time, I found out that one thing was not working.
“I (made contact) and mentioned ‘what’s occurring, by the way in which? Is he not coming? Do you wish to speak?’ On the time, I used to be curious and extra open to serving to with some insights.
“After all, I used to be additionally a little bit bit optimistic, hoping a little bit bit that there may be a door open for us. From the primary time we spoke, there was ‘why not Vancouver?’
“(There was) a degree (when) they mentioned ‘yeah, we perceive that you’re not or not up for such a deal.’ I mentioned ‘please, by no means say that.’
“In my function – particularly as a German – I might by no means say Thomas Muller wouldn’t be an choice for us. I instructed them we’d be tremendous excited if there was a risk however there are additionally points with how we do issues in our market. That was not a problem in any respect.
“From the primary dialog along with his agent, it was like ‘yeah, positive – he thinks Vancouver can be a tremendous touchdown spot’.”
“Let’s do one thing particular collectively.”
Müller is formally a ‘Cap! Rep your membership with the Peak Jersey, out there on the Whitecaps FC Retailer in Gastown (385 Water St). 🌊#VWFC x #TM13 pic.twitter.com/y9zudsAXvN
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) August 6, 2025
Muller to Vancouver: ‘He desires to do that’
After 25 years at Bayern and with a thirty fourth membership trophy on the way in which within the type of the 2024/25 Bundesliga, Muller had introduced he was leaving Die Roten in April.
Over a sequence of with Bayern, Muller was given in-depth insights into Vancouver’s model of play and tactical method and located himself stimulated by supervisor Jesper Sorensen and Schuster, who describes the conversations as “simple”.
“The agent referred to as me and mentioned ‘he desires to do that’,” Schuster says of the response two hours after the final of these chats.
“There’s one different massive drawback with him: should you go and attempt to meet him or he travels, everybody is aware of, in Germany, not less than.
“You can’t do one thing secretly the place you go there and meet, so nearly was adequate.
“(The agent) mentioned ‘look, we now have to talk about a number of issues.’ I mentioned ‘I’m not ready for that’. I used to be nonetheless within the temper of first convincing him about our fantastic venture, metropolis and every little thing.
“These have been straightforward conversations. I don’t wish to say in any approach that the contract negotiations have been sophisticated as a result of that they had full respect for what we’re.”
Particular supply. 📦👀#VWFC x #TM13 pic.twitter.com/UvGsMIhMPY
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) August 6, 2025
Thomas Muller: Vancouver contract ‘respect’
Muller might have adopted lots of his friends by choosing financially mightier suitors. “They know what we provided is large for us and possibly not as massive for different golf equipment, in order that they felt very revered,” identified Schuster.
“However you may think about that writing these contracts and having a participant with such useful picture rights takes a while.
“It takes attorneys and authorized counsel from three nations. It took longer than I hoped at that time, however we bought it achieved.
“It’s the primary time he has actually modified his nation, membership and metropolis. The whole lot in his life and enterprise is ready up in Germany.
“To do that accurately and discover the appropriate set-up in a North American nation throughout two nations wanted professional recommendation and took time.”
“That hasn’t delayed his arrival as a result of, after the Membership World Cup, he wanted break day.”
New threads. 🧵🪡 #TM13 pic.twitter.com/QNd7Wv1xfy
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) August 6, 2025
Thomas Muller Whitecaps payment
The MLS negotiated picture rights with Muller and helped the Whitecaps strike a deal to present $200,000 in 2025 Common Allocation Cash (GAM), $100,000 in 2026 GAM and a conditional $100,000 in 2026 GAM to Cincinnati.
Schuster mentioned reviews that Muller will earn $7.5m a 12 months are “not even shut”, whereas the local weather in Vancouver, which is nearer to Munich than the extraordinary warmth Muller skilled within the US in the course of the Membership World Cup, was an attractive issue.
Muller was inspired by Bayern and Canada wideman Alphonso Davies, who got here by way of the ranks at Vancouver, and now has a shot at glory with Vancouver, who’re a degree from the highest of the Western Convention of their first season underneath former Brondby and Denmark Below-21 boss Sorensen.
“We’ve got by no means mentioned we wish to go and win the title however we now have at all times mentioned we wish to compete for every little thing alongside the highway,” mentioned Schuster, discussing what Muller’s arrival confirmed about their ambitions.
“Even in the course of the season, we do the subsequent issues to assist the workers, the coach, the staff, the membership to go for it. That sends a message to our staff that we now have confidence and perception.”
Lionel Messi, Son Heung-min, Muller ‘influence’
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, of Inter Miami, was the MLS MVP final 12 months and has vastly expanded the profile of the league, whereas Tottenham legend and South Korea icon Son Heung-min accomplished an emotional transfer from Spurs to LAFC this week.
“There was a unique time, a few years in the past, when gamers thought ‘the place is the perfect final contract I can get?’” acknowledged Schuster.
“We’ve fully gone away from that. Gamers are choosing this league as a selection, to check out one thing completely different.”
Messi has top-scored for his facet and gained the Supporters’ Defend final season however Miami have been removed from dominant regardless of his presence, making the Argentina captain’s observations concerning the competitiveness of the MLS ring true.
Muller’s haul of 13 German titles in 17 years as a senior Bayern participant might make underdog standing enchantment to the ahead.
“Gamers are curious to play in a league that’s balanced,” urged Schuster. “That’s completely completely different from a contest standpoint.
“You’re not going to the perfect staff within the nation, the place you mechanically win 80% of the video games. You’re becoming a member of a league the place you, as a participant, must make a distinction to essentially win.
“Each new participant can be taking a look at those that got here lately to see what kind of influence that will make. Messi clearly stands out right here.
“We communicate so usually about his profile and what he has gained, however I might additionally like to talk about his numbers and the way a lot of a distinction he has made for Miami.
“We’ve got performed them twice and his high quality alone has scared us sufficient to be very fearful about learn how to win in opposition to them.
“That’s one thing we count on from a participant like Thomas, who has gained as a lot as Messi, and we’ll most likely see from another gamers, like Son. In tight video games, when it actually issues, these gamers make the distinction.”
Why has Thomas Muller joined the MLS?
Former in 2009, Vancouver’s squad contains USMNT striker Brian White, who has 11 targets within the 2025 MLS, and one among his worldwide teammates, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.
The Whitecaps reached the final Concacaf Champions Cup closing and had the third-highest anticipated targets tally within the MLS on the time of Muller’s arrival.
“That is one step extra to guarantee that everybody understands and sees that we wish to go farther from right here,” outlined Schuster.
“This shouldn’t be the one-hit marvel 12 months. We wish to be a corporation that develops gamers and expertise.
“To try this, you want management, expertise, anchor gamers and gamers who could make gamers higher on the pitch.
“Aside from (Muller’s) particular person abilities, nice menace creation, ending and all the opposite abilities he has, he additionally is excellent at making the gamers subsequent to him higher and serving to them discover the appropriate areas, positions and to shine.
“He might simply have completed his profession now and it will have been an exquisite profession. However the one factor that triggers him is he’s a competitor.
“He performed greater than 40 video games final 12 months and gained titles. He desires to proceed that. He’s not on the level the place he desires to lie again and do one thing else.”
Off the pitch, Vancouver are exploring a brand new stadium with a view to assure the membership stays within the metropolis and elevated attendance by greater than 33% at their present BC Place Stadium final season, up from a median of 14,095 per match to virtually 19,000 (by way of Bob Mackin).
“It’s a message to our market that it’s a staff to get behind this staff, to indicate up, to purchase tickets,” mentioned Schuster, whose membership stored Messi from scoring as they beat Miami within the Champions Cup semi-finals in April, profitable 2-0 in entrance of a near-capacity 54,000 followers at house and 3-1 away.
“In opposition to Miami, we have been rocking the stadium and dominating the most effective groups within the MLS. It’s a message to our market: ‘come on, purchase tickets’.”
Thomas Muller stats
One of many best gamers ever, Muller has supplied 295 targets and 279 assists in 887 profession appearances.
The Golden Boot winner on the 2010 World Cup, Muller gained the competitors in 2014 and is a two-time Champions League winner.
These European triumphs got here with Bayern in 2012/13 and 2019/20, with Muller named within the Champions League squad of the season after the latter marketing campaign.
