Player Report: Sebastian Berhalter

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Everyone knows Sebastian Berhalter is one of the key players on the pitch for the Whitecaps today.

But it wasn’t always that way.

 

From a young age Berhalter has been involved with soccer. His dad, Gregg Berhalter, was also a professional player in England. Sebastian joined the Columbus Crew youth academy in 2014. By 2019 he had made 10 appearances for the youth club before going to play at the University of North Carolina. He would spend a short time there before being signed to the Columbus Crew in the MLS.

 

His journey through the MLS has been a long and grinding one.

 

He joined the Crew when they were a great squad and only made 9 appearances and was unable to have any goals or assists. Columbus would go on to win the MLS Cup that year but Berhalter didn’t make an appearance.

 

After maybe not quite fitting into the squad Columbus would loan out Sebastian to Austin FC.

 

This was another chance for Berhalter to show that he’s got the chops and maybe Columbus’s system just wasn’t a good fit. But after 18 games he still was just seen as a rotation player or a sub. Wasn’t able to get his name on the scoreboard again.

 

Unsure of his future 2022 rolls around and the Whitecaps acquire Berhalter via a trade which essentially only sends cap space back the other way. The  Whitecaps Sporting Director, Axel Shuster, said Berhalter added depth and high intensity to the squad.

 

In 2022 he would make 20 appearances and goals or assist again, but this time he was playing more of the games. He was starting some games not just a sub anymore. In 2023 he would make 37 appearances and finally his hard work would pay off. That season Berhalter had 2 goals and 4 assists. The flower of potential was finally blossoming, and along with it came confidence. In 2024 he took another step up as he made 45 appearances and had 3 goals and 5 assists.

 

However in 2025 his true colors finally showed and became a staple to the team. In 47 appearances he had 7 goals and 13 assists. That’s more than double of 2024. His performance even got him a call up to the US men’s national team where now has 11 appearances and 1 goal.

 

Berhalter is another story on why you should never give up on your dreams. You never know which opportunity will be the one to take you to great heights.