Deal almost done: HSV star set to join Thomas Müller's club! | OneFootball

The weeks-long discussions about Sebastian Schonlau's departure are coming to an end: The HSV defender is expected to move to the MLS.

A spectacular transfer is looming: Sebastian Schonlau, captain of Hamburger SV between 2021 and 2025, is on the verge of a move to Major League Soccer. What Sky first reported on Tuesday evening, was later confirmed by Bild and Hamburger Abendblatt. The center-back is expected to sign with Canadian top club Vancouver Whitecaps soon. This would mean he will likely play alongside Bayern idol Thomas Müller, who was recently presented as the MLS's main attraction.

Schonlau, who has already packed up his things in Hamburg, will fly to North America on Wednesday. He is expected to sign a contract until the end of 2026, including an option for an additional year. He will receive a small severance payment from HSV.

Just a few days ago, the 31-year-old lost the captain's armband to new signing Yussuf Poulsen. From that moment on, it was clear: there is no future for the defender in Hamburg!

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HSV and Schonlau find an ideal solution

The move to Vancouver can now be described as the perfect solution for all parties involved. Whitecaps sports director Axel Schuster, formerly active in Mainz and Schalke, is urgently looking for reinforcements in defense. For Schonlau, this means his dream of a foreign engagement is coming true. After his stints in Verl, Paderborn, and Hamburg, the 1.88-meter-tall player is taking his first step abroad.

The transfer is also likely to make sense from a sporting perspective: The Whitecaps are currently ranked third in the Western Conference and are therefore clearly on course for the playoffs. The former HSV captain could make his MLS debut as early as the weekend in the home game against St. Louis.

And even though the deal has not been officially finalized, it is already clear: a small era is coming to an end in the Hanseatic city. With Schonlau's departure, the third major player from the promotion team, following Ludovit Reis and David Selke, is leaving the club.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.