Thomas Müller to MLS? Bayern Munich Legend Fuels LAFC Transfer Rumors with Cryptic Exit Hint

Thomas Müller’s future has taken a dramatic turn just weeks before his Bayern Munich contract expires, with multiple reports indicating that the 35-year-old World Cup winner is weighing a move to Major League Soccer rather than signing an extension in Bavaria. German outlet Bild, echoed by Get Football News Germany, says negotiations with Los Angeles FC are “taking shape,” positioning the Black & Gold as front-runners in a sweepstakes that has also included Inter Miami and New York City FC. The MLS chatter intensified after Müller publicly shut down a late approach from Manchester United. “I won’t have fun there,” he joked when asked about an Old Trafford switch, insisting that a Premier League move no longer fits his profile or playing style. The blunt dismissal effectively ends a decade-long United link that dates back to Louis van Gaal’s first spell in Manchester. Müller has simultaneously left the door open to hanging up his boots altogether. Speaking to German reporters, the Raumdeuter admitted, “Maybe I’ll just retire if the right project doesn’t appear,” highlighting the emotional tug-of-war between prolonging his glittering career abroad and leaving the stage as a one-club icon. Bayern still hope to convince their vice-captain to stay, especially after he won the club’s Player of the Month award for May thanks to four assists in three Bundesliga matches. Yet internal succession planning—centered on Jamal Musiala and new arrival Michael Olise—suggests Munich are prepared for life without Müller. On the pitch, the veteran continues to deliver. He scored goal No. 250 for Bayern in the opening game of the expanded 2025 Club World Cup, a 10-0 demolition of Auckland City, and predicted an “evenly balanced” quarter-final showdown with Paris Saint-Germain, underscoring his importance in high-stakes moments. Key factors influencing Müller’s decision • Sporting role: LAFC are reportedly offering a designated-player contract and a central creative role behind Denis Bouanga. • Lifestyle appeal: The California market, strong German community, and potential media ventures align with Müller’s long-term interests. • Bayern sentiment: Remaining in Munich would allow him to chase a record 13th Bundesliga title but could reduce his minutes. • Physical demands: MLS’s less-compressed calendar may extend his career past UEFA Euro 2028, a tournament he has not ruled out. What happens next Bayern officials have scheduled final talks after the Club World Cup; LAFC plan to dispatch sporting director John Thorrington to Munich immediately afterward. Should negotiations stall, retirement remains a live option—as does an unlikely late bid from Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi is openly lobbying for another marquee teammate. For now, Thomas Müller’s trademark grin masks a genuine crossroads: extend his Bundesliga legacy, embrace a Hollywood sunset in MLS, or exit the stage entirely. The football world will know his answer before the summer window closes, but whatever he chooses, the Raumdeuter is plotting one last perfect run into space.