Middlesbrough have signed US midfielder, Sebastian Berhalter from Vancouver Whitecaps for £1.5m.
Berhalter’s transfer comes just months before his contract at Vancouver Whitecaps was set to expire at the end of the 2026 MLS season in December 2026, with the Canadian club having accepted a £1.5m offer from Middlesbrough.
The 25-year-old midfielder has signed a four-year contract until June 2030 and believes that Boro is the right club for the next step in his development.
“It feels great to be here. I’ve been watching the club closely over the last two years because of Aidan, and I kind of fell in love with the club, especially over the last year with the way they play and the way they fight.
“This is where I want to be. I want to keep getting better as a player and person, and this is a great place to do it.”
Berhalter added that representing USA at a home World Cup this summer has given him more personal fight to improve his game.
“The World Cup was an incredible experience. It didn’t end the way we wanted to, but to see the American support that was there was really special and I’m really glad to have been a part of it.
“It’s growing in the US, and to see that much support and that many people supporting, it was a dream. It’s given me even more hunger now and this is an amazing place for me to be.”
Born in London, Berhalter began his career at Sweden’s Hammarby IF between 2012-13 before he joined Columbus Crew’s youth academy across 2014-19, which led to a season at North Carolina Tar Heels where he made 17 appearances.
He then returned to Crew in 2020 and went on to make nine appearances before he was loaned out to Austin FC in 2021 which saw him make 18 appearances.
2022 saw him transfer to Vancouver Whitecaps where he produced 20 goals and 22 assists across 167 appearances in five seasons.
Berhalter represents USA at international level with two goals in 18 appearances since he made his debut in June 2025 in a 4-0 friendly loss to Switzerland.
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