{"id":90679,"date":"2025-08-23T07:36:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T07:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/90679\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T07:36:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T07:36:08","slug":"whitecaps-boss-schuster-speaks-after-vancouver-makes-big-splash-on-deadline-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/90679\/","title":{"rendered":"Whitecaps boss Schuster speaks after Vancouver makes big splash on deadline day"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Vancouver Whitecaps made a splash on transfer deadline day by acquiring a pair of defenders in Sebastian Schonlau and Joedrick Pupe<\/a>. The reinforcements on the back line come after season-ending injuries to Sam Adekugbe and Ranko Veselinovic.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Norwegian centre back Bj\u00f8rn Inge Utvik was transferred back to his old club in Norway, Sarpsborg 08, for a transfer fee of $250K.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As the clock ticked down to the close of the MLS secondary transfer window at 10 p.m. on Thursday, Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster spoke to Daily Hive in an exclusive interview about the flurry of activity.<\/p>\n

Schonlau is a player who fits their style<\/p>\n

Schonlau, a 31-year-old centre back from Germany, arrived in Vancouver on Wednesday and had his first full training session with his new teammates Thursday morning. The 6-foot-1 defender joins Vancouver from his club team in Hamburg, where he captained HSV in over 300 professional appearances, helping them earn promotion to the Bundesliga earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe brings resilience in pressure moments,\u201d Schuster told Daily Hive. \u201cHamburg was under high pressure to get promoted.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a player profile, he\u2019s good on the ball. He\u2019s very good in one-on-one situations, good in the air. He\u2019s a player that fits the style that we have now with a lot of possession and being a team that wants to have the ball and build up from the back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sebastian Schonlau first training session with #VWFC<\/a> \u2013 He will be wearing kit 15.#MLS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/n2TW66gBwT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Har Journalist (@HarJournalist) August 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The native of Warburg, Germany, is signed through to the end of the 2026 campaign with a club option for 2027. Schonlau is expected to be available for selection on Saturday, when the Whitecaps host St. Louis City SC in front of a big crowd at BC Place<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Given the timing, some have wondered if Thomas M\u00fcller\u2019s arrival in Vancouver<\/a> helped seal the deal for his countryman.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe decision was made without M\u00fcller,\u201d Schonlau told reporters following training on Thursday. \u201cOf course it\u2019s a nice side effect. I\u2019m happy to get to know him. Not only in Germany, but all over the world, he\u2019s a popular guy. He\u2019s reached so many things, and we can just learn from him. I\u2019m happy that he\u2019s joined the club as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pupe brings versatility<\/p>\n

The Whitecaps also added some versatility with the addition of Pupe, who joins Vancouver after captaining FCV Dender in the Belgian Pro League. <\/p>\n

Signed through to the end of the 2027 campaign with a club option for 2028, Pupe has made 121 appearances at the professional level. <\/p>\n

The 28-year-old\u2019s profile is exactly what Schuster has been looking for.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI like that he\u2019s a left-footed player who can play left-sided centre back in a back three and left,\u201d Schuster said. \u201cHe\u2019s very physical, powerful, fast, very tall and strong in the air. Somebody who is mature and very resilient because he went through some difficult ups and downs in his career to a point where he was almost giving up on his playing career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pupe, who picked up a minor hamstring injury, joined the Whitecaps on Friday. The earliest he could be available is Saturday, Sept. 13, when Vancouver hosts the Philadelphia Union at BC Place.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Utvik going home<\/p>\n

Utvik departs the Whitecaps after making 55 appearances across all competitions in parts of two seasons. \u201cThe helmet,\u201d as he was affectionately known, had expressed interest in moving back to Norway to raise his family and play for his previous club, Sparsborg 08.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Utvik\u2019s move back to Norway was expected to take place during the MLS offseason, but the additions of Schonlau and Pupe accelerated the process between the two clubs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were sitting down with Bjorn asking where he is, and he said, \u2018My club would love to take me right away,\u2019\u201d Schuster said. \u201cThey want him to play next Monday. We thought there might be a win-win situation for him going home at a point where it makes most sense for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

How about a Bayern friendly?<\/p>\n

#VWFC<\/a>\u2019s Thomas M\u00fcller making memories with some fans today. <\/p>\n

The young lad with his dad (on his day off) waited four+ hours to meet M\u00fcller. #TM13<\/a>#MLS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lHyRuajJkG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Har Journalist (@HarJournalist) August 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Given that M\u00fcller is now with the Whitecaps and Alphonso Davies plays for Bayern Munich, an international friendly between the two clubs seems like a natural.<\/p>\n

It might be hard to achieve, though.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would say for the next 16 months our calendar and the calendar of all clubs are a mess because of the World Cup,\u201d Schuster said. \u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s a lot of open windows, so for that reason, we haven\u2019t even started this discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hey, we tried.<\/p>\n

You might also like:Whitecaps star M\u00fcller biked all through Vancouver and says ‘the city is a dream’<\/a>
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