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"They (fans) can expect that I'm always 100 per cent," Muller said in a video provided by the club after officially announcing the signing Wednesday. "You can watch my skills in YouTube videos or several TV shows, but you can expect that I'm fully into it. And for me, that's the most important part."

While players and management were thrilled with Muller’s skills on the pitch, they also praised his experience and leadership.

“He’s so clever and he’s so technical,� midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said after training Wednesday. “He’s someone I think playing with will be really fun.

“He’s a guy with tons of experience. Hopefully we can bring the quality to help us win.�

Forward Jayden Nelson said Muller has the reputation of having a positive impact on both the field and in the dressing room.

“Sometimes, the big players, it could be bad because they have accomplished so much,� said the Brampton, Ont., native. “They’re coming to a team where they probably could (think) ‘who are these guys?’

“But I think Thomas is going to come and bring a lot of experience and a lot of push to the team and help us win a championship."

Muller is expected to arrive in Vancouver next Wednesday, with his first training session set for Thursday.

Muller helped lead Germany to the 2014 World Cup title, scoring five goals in the tournament. He also won the Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, finishing with five goals and three assists.

He will occupy an international roster slot and is expected to take one of the club’s vacant spots on the season-ending injury list, pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC), visa and work permit.

Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said he first made contact with Muller in late July.

“From the first conversation with his agent it was like 'sure, he thinks Vancouver would be an amazing spot,'" said Schuster.

Schuster said even though the negotiations involved tax lawyers and legal consultants from three countries, plus the Whitecaps and MLS, Muller’s representatives were always respectful.

“They know what we offered is huge for us, maybe not as big as for other clubs, but they felt very respected," he said.

Schuster did not give a dollar figure for the deal. Muller has signed for the remainder of the 2025 season with a Designated Player option for 2026, but he denied reports Muller could be paid US$7.5 million next year.

“No, not even close,� he said. “Less.�

The 35-year-old attacking midfielder came up through Bayern Munich's academy and spent 17 years with the German Bundesliga side.

He scored 250 goals for Bayern across all competitions and helped the team to 13 league championships, but his contract was not renewed after last season.

Muller talked with former teammate Alphonso Davies about the club and the city after deciding to make the move to Vancouver. Davies, a star player with Bayern and captain of Canada's national team, started his career as a teenager with the Whitecaps before joining the German powerhouse in January 2019.

"He told me a lot of good things about the city and the Whitecaps," said Muller. "So I was a little bit pumped, but the decision was made.

"I didn't need Alphonso's opinion, but it was important for me just to double-check."

To complete the signing, the Whitecaps acquired Muller’s MLS discovery rights from FC Cincinnati in exchange for up to $400,000 in General Allocation Money.

The Whitecaps (13-5-6) are currently second in the Western Conference with 45 points, just one back of conference leader San Diego and five behind overall league-leader Philadelphia Union.

Under first-year head coach Jesper Sorensen, the club has exceeded expectations this year, not only in league play, but by making it to the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they fell 5-0 to LIGA MX side Cruz Azul.

Sorensen said Muller is a player who makes others around him better.

“We know about his finishing qualities in the box,� said Sorensen. “He’s good with his head, he can finish with both feet. He’s good at providing for others.

“He’s also good against the ball in the pressing part of the game.�

The acquisition of Muller comes at the same time the Whitecaps ownership group is trying to sell the team. There have been concerns the club, which currently plays its home game at BC Place Stadium, may be forced to leave the city unless a new stadium is built.

Schuster said talk of the sale hasn’t changed the Whitecaps' goals.

“We will not give up on putting the bar higher,� he said. “We have goals and want to do the next step as a club."

Muller is the latest international star to make the jump to MLS.

Argentine forward Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 following a long career with Barcelona and a stint at Paris Saint-Germain. The 38-year-old currently leads MLS in scoring with 18 goals on the season.

English midfielder David Beckham was one of the first European stars to move to MLS. He signed with the L.A. Galaxy in 2007 after playing for top clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid and won the MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012.

Beckham remains involved with the league as an owner of Inter Miami.

This report by °µÍø½ûÇø was first published Aug. 6, 2025.