The USMNT’s Sebastian Berhalter leaves MLS: contract details and transfer fee
It was confirmed on Tuesday that the American international midfielder is to depart Major League Soccer for the English second tier.
Major League Soccer has exported another player to Europe, announcing on Tuesday that midfielder Sebastian Berhalter has left the Vancouver Whitecaps to join the English club Middlesbrough.
The 25-year-old, a key player in the U.S. national team’s recent World Cup campaign, departs the Whitecaps after four seasons with the Canadian club. During his time in Vancouver, he made 167 appearances, netting 20 goals and adding 26 assists.
Capped 18 times, Berhalter played in all five of the USMNT’s World Cup games this summer, scoring once as Mauricio Pochettino’s men reached the round of 16.
Seba is on the move. 🥹🫶@WhitecapsFC transfer Sebastian Berhalter to Middlesbrough: https://t.co/5H0O0Ip5Aj pic.twitter.com/xjESZe15uu
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 28, 2026
Boro chasing long-awaited EPL comeback
Berhalter will now play in the EFL Championship, England’s second tier, at a club that was last relegated from the Premier League in the 2016-17 campaign. Nearly a decade later, Boro are still chasing a return to the top flight.
Last season, Middlesbrough fell short in the Championship playoffs. The Teessiders suffered a 2-1 defeat to Southampton in the semifinals, but progressed to the final after the Saints’ expulsion over the ‘spygate’ scandal. However, Boro failed to stamp their ticket to the Premier League in the promotion decider, losing out to Hull City at Wembley Stadium.
Berhalter’s contract with the Whitecaps was scheduled to expire in December of this year, but the MLS club was able to negotiate a reported $2 million transfer fee, while also retaining a sell-on percentage for any future move. The player has signed a four-year contract with Middlesbrough.
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