Sebastian Berhalter is the newest American face in the EFL Championship. Berhalter has joined Middlesbrough in a permanent deal from the Vancouver Whitecaps, both clubs announced Wednesday. The U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder signed a four-year deal with the English second-tier side, which will take him through the 2029-30 campaign.“It feels great to be here,” Berhalter said. “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 has made 157 MLS appearances since debuting for the Columbus Crew back in 2020. After short spells with Columbus and Austin FC, Berhalter made his name with the Whitecaps over the past four-and-a-half seasons, logging 14 goals and 28 assists. He most recently made five appearances for the USMNT at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring once and assisting once against Turkey. Berhalter now teams up with former club teammate Aidan Morris, who is entering his third campaign with Middlesbrough. Both Berhalter and Morris are also USMNT teammates. Kim Hellberg’s squad will open their 2026-27 schedule on August 7 against Wrexham in EFL Cup play.