USMNT player Sebastian Berhalter is closing in on a transfer to the Championship club
Middlesbrough are still active during this summer transfer window.
After signing Tottenham Hotspur star Will Lankshear, the EFL Championship outfit are now on the verge of landing one of the biggest names in the US Men’s National Team in Sebastian Berhalter.
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According to a report from The Athletic, the 25-year-old midfielder is completing a move from MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps to Boro for a fee of around $2 million (£1.5 million).
Middlesbrough have reportedly beaten 6-10 other clubs who were thought to be ‘closely pursuing’ Berhalter’s signature this summer.
He was left out of the Whitecaps’ 4-3 loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday night as the deal was still pending.
With Berhalter out of contract this winter, the Whitecaps seized the opportunity to secure additional funds and avoid letting him leave on a free transfer.
Berhalter spent his entire senior career playing in the MLS, suiting up for the Columbus Crew and Austin FC early in his career.
But his stint with the Whitecaps has been very successful for him. He registered 20 goals and 26 assists in 167 games for the Canadian outfit.
Boro bring in one of the brightest talents in MLS
In the 2025 MLS campaign, the box-to-box midfielder had five goals and 13 assists in all competitions, and was named to the MLS Best XI, helping the Whitecaps win the Canadian Championship.
He was also instrumental in the Whitecaps reaching the MLS Cup final last season, although they lost to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
Vancouver also reached CONCACAF Champions Cup The last time was last season, but it was defeated 5-0 by the Mexican team Cruz Azul.
Following All-Star honors in 2026, Berhalter was rewarded with selection as part of Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man USMNT squad for the 2026 World Cup, making him a bench appearance in the second half of their 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay.
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He even scored during the Group Stage of the competition, netting an equalizer for the Stars and Stripes against Turkey, although the USMNT would fall to a late goal in a 3-2 loss.
He has managed all five (one start) of this summer’s American Championship games at home, adding an assist.
Berhalter is now following in the footsteps of his father Gregg – former USMNT head coach – in crossing the pond to England with his father playing for Premier League side Crystal Palace when he was born in 2001.
Middlesbrough are currently in the midst of a promotion push, having edged closer to the 2025-26 campaign, finishing fifth to clinch a play-off spot.
Despite losing 2-1 on aggregate to Southampton after extra time in the semi-finals, they progressed to the final after the Saints were kicked out of the competition due to SpyGate.
However, Hull City proved too much for Boro on the day in front of 80,000-plus fans at Wembley Stadum as Oli McBurnie scored a late winner to end their Premier League aspirations for the 2026/27 season.
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