Sebastian Berhalter fights back tears in farewell message to Vancouver Whitecaps fans
“What a ride.”
Those are the words of Sebastian Berhalter, whose time with the Vancouver Whitecaps officially came to an end on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old American was transferred to English Championship side Middlesbrough FC on Tuesday for a reported US$2 million transfer fee. The Whitecaps, who would have lost Berhalter for nothing in the offseason had they not moved him this summer, will retain a sell-on percentage in the event of a future transfer.
While he’s moving forward in his career, in a video shared to social media, Berhalter showed just how much Vancouver meant to him.
“I called this place home for the last four and a half years, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The memories last a lifetime,” said Berhalter.
Berhalter was acquired by the Whitecaps in 2022 with very little fanfare. They gave up just $50,000 in general allocation money, as well as conditional payments, to get him as a 20-year-old.
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He went on to become one of the best midfielders in Major League Soccer, earning a spot on the U.S. men’s national team at the FIFA World Cup.
Who could ever forget the heart Berhalter showed during the MLS Cup Playoffs last season, the emotion visible on his face during extra time as an undermanned Whitecaps team fought off LAFC.
Emotion was visible on his face during the video he released today, also.
“The players and the fans, the connection to this city… makes me so proud to call myself a Whitecap. I promise you, I’ll always call myself a Whitecap, whether you guys like it or not. For me, [I have] the utmost gratitude for taking me in, as a boy, turning me out as a young man. I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me believe in myself… I love every one of you guys, thank you for being part of this journey.
“I’ll be a Whitecap forever.”
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The journey for Berhalter takes him to England, where he’ll try to get Middlesbrough promoted to the Premier League. Until then, he’ll join former Whitecaps teammate Ali Ahmed in the second tier of English football.
“Through his development at our club and his consistent performances, it was only natural that Sebastian attracted interest from several clubs,” said Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster. “We have been in open and ongoing discussions with Sebastian and his representatives about his future. It was always clear that if the right opportunity to move to Europe presented itself, he wanted the chance to pursue that challenge. At the same time, we shared the understanding that if the timing wasn’t right, we would continue working together on his long-term future with our club.”
“Sebastian joined us at a pivotal stage of his young career, and through his hard work and dedication, he earned every opportunity with both club and country,” Schuster added. “We are incredibly proud of what he has accomplished and the role he has played in our success. His journey is another strong example of the pathway we provide for players with the right mentality, discipline, and work ethic to reach the highest level. Everyone at the club is grateful for Sebastian’s contributions during his time in Vancouver, and we wish him every success in this next chapter of his career.”