Has De Paul Officially Joined Inter Miami Permanently?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rodrigo De Paul has officially joined Inter Miami on a permanent deal.
- He played a key role in securing the first MLS Cup for the club.
- Ongoing negotiations with other key players like Luis Suarez are underway.
- Ian Fray has extended his contract through the 2028-29 season.
- The new MLS season starts on February 21.
Fort Lauderdale, Dec 12 (NationPress) - Inter Miami has decided to exercise its option to secure Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul on a permanent basis, as announced by the MLS club. De Paul, who is 31 years old, initially joined Miami on loan from Atletico Madrid in July, playing a crucial role in helping the team capture its inaugural MLS Cup with 17 league appearances and netting a goal in the final against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The 2022 World Cup champion had a contract with Atletico Madrid until June 2026, having transferred to the Spanish team from Udinese in 2021.
Details regarding the new contract have not been disclosed by Inter Miami.
The Florida team also revealed that they are in ongoing discussions with Luis Suarez, a Uruguayan striker whose contract has expired, as well as Tadeo Allende, an Argentine forward on loan from Celta Vigo whose loan agreement concludes this month.
The upcoming MLS season is set to commence on February 21 next year.
In related news, Inter Miami has extended the contract of Academy product and MLS Cup 2025 Champion Ian Fray through the 2028-29 MLS season, with an option for the 2029-30 season.
Fray has recently completed his third season with the Inter Miami CF First Team in 2025, following the Club’s Player Development Pathway, making 35 appearances and contributing one goal and four assists across all competitions.
The defender initially signed as a Homegrown Player in 2021 but missed the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to long-term injuries.
He made his return to the field in 2023 and has since been an integral part of the Inter Miami squad that achieved the remarkable feat of winning the first four titles in the Club's history: the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield title, which established the MLS single-season points record, the 2025 MLS Eastern Conference title, and the MLS Cup.