Vancouver Whitecaps lose their best player to team in England
The Vancouver Whitecaps returned from a two-month MLS hiatus on Wednesday night, but they did so without arguably their best player.
During the Whitecaps’ chaotic 4-3 loss to FC Cincinnati, they entered the pitch without star midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.
A source told Daily Hive on Wednesday night that Berhalter did not travel with the team to Cincinnati for Wednesday’s match because the player and team were in discussions about his future.
It looks like we now know what those discussions entailed.
Tom Bogert of The Athletic first reported on Thursday that Berhalter is transferring to Middlesbrough F.C. in the English Championship. The transfer will net the Whitecaps about US$2 million, according to The Athletic.
The report also mentioned that about six to 10 teams were interested in acquiring Berhalter before the deal with Middlesbrough F.C. was reportedly finalized.
Berhalter was out of contract at the end of this season, and rumblings of his departure have been out there for months.
Still, that likely does little to ease the blow for Whitecaps players and fans.
Berhalter blossomed into one of the league’s best midfielders in Vancouver after joining the team in February 2022 on a transfer from Austin FC.
Last season, the 25-year-old was named to the MLS Best XI, along with being tabbed as the Whitecaps MVP.
His performance in MLS caught the attention of the U.S. men’s national team, and he played for the Americans in the FIFA World Cup this summer. Berhalter scored one goal and added an assist while appearing in all five matches.
While Berhalter was raised in Columbus, he was actually born in London, England. His father, Gregg Berhalter, played for Crystal Palace at the time.
Although this is a massive loss for the Whitecaps, at least they came out okay financially. The Whitecaps acquired Berhalter for US$50,000 back in 2022, before selling him for a reported US$2 million on Thursday.