Latest news with #MLSWesternConference
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Son Heung-min receives warm welcome in Los Angeles ahead of reported LAFC signing
Son Heung-min entered Los Angeles on Tuesday, and he reportedly plans to stay there for quite some time. The former Tottenham Hotspur captain received a warm welcome at both Los Angeles International Airport and at Tuesday's LAFC game, following reports that he intends to join the MLS club on a league-record $26.5 million transfer fee. The crowd at BMO Stadium got rather loud when he was shown on the big screen. Per AFP, roughly 40 fans showed up at LAX hoping to see Son, who spent 10 years at Tottenham and is viewed by many as the greatest Asian soccer player ever. His status as a national hero in South Korea makes him a strong fit for a team in Los Angeles, which contains the largest Korean population of the world outside of the Korean peninsula. The city's large Koreatown neighborhood is only a couple miles from BMO Stadium. Son gives the LAFC the biggest splash signing since Inter Miami landed Lionel Messi two years ago, though the Vancouver Whitecaps landed a similar coup last week with the signing of Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller. Son figures to bring a new wave of attention to his club, as well as a dynamic scoring threat for a side that ranks sixth in the MLS Western Conference with a 10-6-6 record. LAFC attempted this dance one year earlier with the Olivier Giroud, which wound up being a significant disappointment. Son projects as a better fit for LAFC's style, though that could change due to the looming exit of head coach Steve Cherundolo.
Canada News.Net
30-07-2025
- Business
- Canada News.Net
Reports: Whitecaps closing in on deal with Thomas Muller
(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) The Vancouver Whitecaps are finalizing a deal to sign former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller, according to multiple reports. Vancouver's next step in closing the deal, which would be its highest-profile signing in team history, is to acquire Muller's discovery rights. Discovery rights allow MLS clubs to negotiate with players outside of the league, and prohibit other clubs from negotiating with the player. FC Cincinnati currently hold Muller's discovery rights, but the World Cup winner reportedly declined an offer to join FC Cincinnati in April. Per The Athletic and ESPN, Vancouver is close to finalizing a trade for the discovery rights, in exchange for $400,000 in General Allocation Money. Muller, 35, played 17 seasons for Bayern Munich of the Bundesliga. He tallied 250 goals, 756 appearances and 33 trophies -- including a pair of Champions League titles and 13 league titles -- during one of the most illustrious tenures in club history. The attacking midfielder and forward also notched 45 goals and 131 caps for Germany. The Whitecaps (13-5-6, 45 points) are second in the MLS Western Conference right now, sitting one point behind San Diego FC for the conference lead.
Reuters
30-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Reports: Whitecaps closing in on deal with Thomas Muller
July 30 - The Vancouver Whitecaps are finalizing a deal to sign former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller, according to multiple reports. Vancouver's next step in closing the deal, which would be its highest-profile signing in team history, is to acquire Muller's discovery rights. Discovery rights allow MLS clubs to negotiate with players outside of the league, and prohibit other clubs from negotiating with the player. FC Cincinnati currently hold Muller's discovery rights, but the World Cup winner reportedly declined an offer to join FC Cincinnati in April. Per The Athletic and ESPN, Vancouver is close to finalizing a trade for the discovery rights, in exchange for $400,000 in General Allocation Money. Muller, 35, played 17 seasons for Bayern Munich of the Bundesliga. He tallied 250 goals, 756 appearances and 33 trophies -- including a pair of Champions League titles and 13 league titles -- during one of the most illustrious tenures in club history. The attacking midfielder and forward also notched 45 goals and 131 caps for Germany. The Whitecaps (13-5-6, 45 points) are second in the MLS Western Conference right now, sitting one point behind San Diego FC for the conference lead. --Field Level Media
Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Vancouver Whitecaps sell dynamic midfielder Pedro Vite to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM
The Vancouver Whitecaps will be without one of their top scorers this weekend as they seek to retake the No. 1 spot in Major League Soccer's Western Conference. The club announced Friday that 23-year-old midfielder Pedro Vite has been transferred to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM. Terms of the deal were not released, but Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement that the club will invest the transfer fee to 'strengthen our roster, for both immediate impact and long-term success' and Vancouver will receive a percentage of any future transfer fees. 'Pedro arrived in Vancouver at 19, living outside of Ecuador for the first time. Year after year, he continued to progress, and this season he's emerged as one of the top midfielders in MLS and a key contributor to his national team,' Schuster said. 'We explored several options with Pedro and, ultimately, we respect his decision. We're grateful for everything he brought to the club and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.' Vite joined the Whitecaps in October 2021 from Ecuadorian first division side Independiente Del Valle. During his time in Vancouver, he tallied 15 goals and 20 assists in 140 appearances, including five goals and a team-leading six assists across all competitions this year. Last month, he helped Ecuador's national squad qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Vite has been an important part of the Whitecaps this season, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said Friday. 'He's honestly been amazing,' he said. 'One of the first moments I played with him, I realized, 'Wow, this kid is special.' He wasn't getting the game time, but you could see just his touch and technique on the ball was something I hadn't really played with before.' The move means the 'Caps (12-5-5) will have a hole in their lineup Saturday when they take on San Diego FC (13-7-3) in California. '(Vite's) a guy who can make very difficult things look very easy and I think that he has had a great season so far,' said Jesper Sorensen, Vancouver's head coach. 'Of course we will miss him. We will always miss a good player and a good guy as well. But on the other hand, this is the name of the game and this is how football works. And we will be ready to fill out the spot that he leaves.' Saturday's match will be a battle for best of the West, with expansion side San Diego currently sitting one point ahead of Vancouver and in the No. 1 spot in the MLS Western Conference standings. The stakes were similar back on June 25 when San Diego came to Vancouver for the first-ever matchup between the two sides. The new franchise waltzed away with a 5-3 victory. Milan Iloski scored four goals for the visitors that night, but won't be in the lineup on Saturday. The midfielder left San Diego earlier this week to rejoin Danish Superliga side FC Nordjaelland. Sorensen, for one, isn't disappointed to see Iloski go. 'He was pretty hard on us last time. I'm happy he's not there today,' the coach said with a laugh. 'No matter who (San Diego) play, they all play the same way. Of course it's not the same player they have but they have good players around and they'll also find a replacement that will make things difficult for us.' VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-5-5) AT SAN DIEGO FC (13-7-3) Saturday, Snapdragon Stadium POTENT OFENCE: San Diego continues to be an offensive juggernaut, leading the league in both goals (46) and assists (55). The team is also second in passes completed (13,731). QUEST FOR 100: Striker Brian White scored his 99th career goal on Wednesday. He leads the 'Caps in scoring this season with 16 goals across all competitions. KEEP IT CLEAN: Vancouver 'keeper Yohei Takaoka leads the league with 10 clean sheets after backstopping the Whitecaps to a 3-0 victory over the Dynamo. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver Whitecaps sell dynamic midfielder Pedro Vite to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM
The Vancouver Whitecaps will be without one of their top scorers this weekend as they seek to retake the No. 1 spot in Major League Soccer's Western Conference. The club announced Friday that 23-year-old midfielder Pedro Vite has been transferred to LIGA MX side Pumas UNAM. Terms of the deal were not released, but Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster said in a statement that the club will invest the transfer fee to 'strengthen our roster, for both immediate impact and long-term success' and Vancouver will receive a percentage of any future transfer fees. 'Pedro arrived in Vancouver at 19, living outside of Ecuador for the first time. Year after year, he continued to progress, and this season he's emerged as one of the top midfielders in MLS and a key contributor to his national team,' Schuster said. 'We explored several options with Pedro and, ultimately, we respect his decision. We're grateful for everything he brought to the club and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.' Vite joined the Whitecaps in October 2021 from Ecuadorian first division side Independiente Del Valle. During his time in Vancouver, he tallied 15 goals and 20 assists in 140 appearances, including five goals and a team-leading six assists across all competitions this year. Last month, he helped Ecuador's national squad qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Vite has been an important part of the Whitecaps this season, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said Friday. 'He's honestly been amazing,' he said. 'One of the first moments I played with him, I realized, 'Wow, this kid is special.' He wasn't getting the game time, but you could see just his touch and technique on the ball was something I hadn't really played with before.' The move means the 'Caps (12-5-5) will have a hole in their lineup Saturday when they take on San Diego FC (13-7-3) in California. '(Vite's) a guy who can make very difficult things look very easy and I think that he has had a great season so far,' said Jesper Sorensen, Vancouver's head coach. 'Of course we will miss him. We will always miss a good player and a good guy as well. But on the other hand, this is the name of the game and this is how football works. And we will be ready to fill out the spot that he leaves.' Saturday's match will be a battle for best of the West, with expansion side San Diego currently sitting one point ahead of Vancouver and in the No. 1 spot in the MLS Western Conference standings. The stakes were similar back on June 25 when San Diego came to Vancouver for the first-ever matchup between the two sides. The new franchise waltzed away with a 5-3 victory. Milan Iloski scored four goals for the visitors that night, but won't be in the lineup on Saturday. The midfielder left San Diego earlier this week to rejoin Danish Superliga side FC Nordjaelland. Sorensen, for one, isn't disappointed to see Iloski go. 'He was pretty hard on us last time. I'm happy he's not there today,' the coach said with a laugh. 'No matter who (San Diego) play, they all play the same way. Of course it's not the same player they have but they have good players around and they'll also find a replacement that will make things difficult for us.' VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-5-5) AT SAN DIEGO FC (13-7-3) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Saturday, Snapdragon Stadium POTENT OFENCE: San Diego continues to be an offensive juggernaut, leading the league in both goals (46) and assists (55). The team is also second in passes completed (13,731). QUEST FOR 100: Striker Brian White scored his 99th career goal on Wednesday. He leads the 'Caps in scoring this season with 16 goals across all competitions. KEEP IT CLEAN: Vancouver 'keeper Yohei Takaoka leads the league with 10 clean sheets after backstopping the Whitecaps to a 3-0 victory over the Dynamo. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
