Berhalter replacement? Vancouver Whitecaps sign midfielder out of Serbia
Sebastian Berhalter’s departure has left a big hole in the Vancouver Whitecaps’ lineup. The 25-year-old midfielder, who played for the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was arguably Vancouver’s best player.
Have the Whitecaps now found his replacement?
In terms of position, they have, with the acquisition of box-to-box midfielder Aleksa Cvetković. Daily Hive can confirm reports out of Serbia that the Whitecaps are signing the 21-year-old who played for OFK Beograd in the Serbian SuperLiga.
The Whitecaps are reportedly acquiring Cvetković for a €1.5 million (US$1.73 million) transfer fee.
🇷🇸 Sources: The Vancouver Whitecaps are signing Serbian midfielder Aleksa Cvetkovic from OFK Beograd.
Cvetkovic, 21, is a box-to-box midfielder who has made 73 first team apps already.
U-22 initiative, fee around $1.5m pic.twitter.com/M7cCQE1gb5
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) August 10, 2026
“The recent OFK Belgrade midfielder has been on Vancouver’s radar for a long time,” Serbian journalist Vladimir Jovicic reports. “The two clubs have entered into negotiations, and now, according to our information, the deal has been finalized.”
Cvetković did not post eye-popping stats in the Serbian SuperLiga, with just three goals in 29 games in 2024-25 and one goal in 28 appearances last season. But clearly, the Whitecaps believe in his potential.
That’s not unlike Berhalter, who was a relatively unheralded pickup by Vancouver as a 20-year-old in 2022. The club would be over the moon if Cvetković follows the same trajectory.
“Our intention is to bring in at least one player who we think has the profile of being a player who can be a starter right away,” Whitecaps FC CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster told Daily Hive recently, perhaps foreshadowing the Cvetković move. “We would like to add at least more than one player who gives us some more depth. The idea is to definitely bring in one who can help right away.”
Schuster might not be done adding to his club, as the Whitecaps are also in talks to acquire striker Dániel Gazdag, per Transfermarkt’s Manuel Veth. The 30-year-old striker has three goals in 14 appearances with Columbus this season, and has scored 66 goals during his six-year MLS career.
The Whitecaps have sputtered since the World Cup break, with an 0-1-2 record in MLS play, along with two straight losses in Leagues Cup action.
They’re still at the top of the table in the MLS Western Conference standings, though, with a 10-3-4 record through 17 matches.
The Whitecaps’ next two matches are on the road, against Tigres UANL in Mexico on Tuesday and at Seattle on Sunday. They return to BC Place on Aug. 19 for a home match against Houston.