A Major Roster Addition
Inter Miami CF officially announced the signing of Brazilian international midfielder Casemiro on July 22, 2026. The 34-year-old, a five-time UEFA Champions League winner, joins the club as a free agent following the conclusion of his contract with Manchester United. The agreement spans through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season, with an option to extend the contract until June 2029. Casemiro’s arrival is widely viewed as a significant bolstering of Inter Miami’s championship ambitions, though the deal remains subject to the receipt of his P-1 Visa.
The Tampering Investigation
While the signing marks a historic addition for the reigning MLS Cup champions, the transaction is currently under scrutiny. According to reports from ESPN and WPBF 25 News, Major League Soccer has launched an investigation into potential tampering allegations filed by the LA Galaxy. Under MLS rules, the Galaxy held the discovery rights to Casemiro, which should have restricted other clubs from initiating negotiations with the player.
Inter Miami successfully bypassed this hurdle by reaching a settlement with the LA Galaxy to acquire the necessary discovery priority. However, the league clarified that this settlement does not conclude the broader inquiry. “The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete,” a league statement noted. The specific terms of the settlement between the two clubs remain confidential and are expected to be disclosed only after the league’s internal review concludes.
Strategic Roster Impact
Casemiro’s arrival does not require a Designated Player (DP) slot, which remains occupied by Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and Germán Berterame. This flexibility is critical for Inter Miami as they navigate the current season, currently sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference with 31 points. The club, now under the guidance of head coach Guillermo Hoyos following the departure of Javier Mascherano in April, aims to integrate the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star into a midfield core that already features World Cup champion Rodrigo De Paul.
For Casemiro, the move represents a transition from a 14-year career in Europe to the North American market. “The project the Club presented to me, along with the effort everyone made to bring me here, means a lot to me,” Casemiro said in a statement. His experience, spanning 91 caps for Brazil and extensive success at the highest levels of global football, is expected to provide leadership for a team that has already established itself as a dominant force in the league.