Thomas Müller set to become highest-paid player in Vancouver Whitecaps history
Thomas Müller is expected to land in Vancouver soon, and when he does, he’ll do so as the highest-paid player in Whitecaps history.
The Bayern Munich star has reportedly agreed to a deal to join the Whitecaps, who had to pay a $400,000 fee to FC Cincinnati just to acquire his discovery rights. Müller will arrive on Friday, according to a report out of Germany, with his MLS debut coming perhaps as soon as Aug. 17.
It sounds like Müller’s contract will be creatively constructed, given that the Whitecaps don’t have an available designated player spot this season. Vancouver opted for two designated players this season, Ryan Gauld and Andres Cubas, but can add a third designated player spot next year.
Müller will earn approximately US$685,000 for the remainder of the 2025 season, before the Whitecaps make him one of their designated players for 2026, according to Dirk Adam of SI Germany. That will allow the club to pay Müller more than 10 times his 2025 salary.
Müller will smash the Whitecaps record for a single player salary in 2026, earning approximately US$7.5 million (€6.6 million per SI Germany).
That’s more than double what Gauld makes, as the Whitecaps captain earned $3.675 million in 2025.
This will be a significant pay cut for the 35-year-old Müller, who earned €20.5M with Bayern.
Just five MLS players earned more than $7.5 million in 2025. That includes Lionel Messi, who is set to make over $20 million this season.