Inter Miami has signed 21 players. Here’s who they are, and what to expect from them
Atop the wish list of every Inter Miami fan this holiday season was a pair of talented, high-profile players. Negotiations have been dragging on for months, and announcements are expected in early January, as the European transfer window opens.
Now that they have their coach in place -- Diego Alonso of Uruguay was hired on Dec. 30 -- the next question is who will fill the remaining spots on the roster.
As for the two “Designated Players”, whose salaries can exceed the salary cap, names most often linked to the team include Edinson Cavani of Paris Saint Germain and David Silva of Manchester City, although Cavani is likely to stay in Europe. The Athletic reported that Roger Martinez, a Colombian native who plays for Mexican team Club America, has also been in talks with Miami.
While fans await the announcements, they can get acquainted with the 21 players already on the roster...
Name: Drake Callender, GK
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
Age: 22
Bio: Homegrown player from the San Jose Earthquakes. Played for Cal-Berkeley, was named All-Pac 12 three years in a row. Called up to the Under-23 U.S. national team during his college senior season.
Luis Robles, GK
Hometown: Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
Age: 35
Bio: Started 238 regular-season games for the Red Bulls over the past eight seasons, and recorded 72 shutouts during that time. He was named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2015. He holds the record for most consecutive MLS regular-season starts, 183 starts from 2012 to 2018. He is also sixth all-time in MLS history with 114 goalkeeper wins. He played three games for the U.S. national team. His father is Puerto Rican and his mother Korean. He played five seasons in Germany before joining the Red Bulls, and attended University of Portland.
John McCarthy, GK
Hometown: Cinnaminson, N.J.
Age: 27
Bio: Returns to MLS after spending a year with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL. Made 29 regular season appearances with 10 shutouts in 2019. Before joining the Rowdies, McCarthy played in MLS for the Philadelphia Union, where he made 21 appearances in four seasons. He also played 26 games for the club’s USL affiliate, Bethlehem Steel FC. In 2014, McCarthy played for the Rochester Rhinos and was named USL Goalkeeper of the Year. Four-year starter at LaSalle.
Bryan Meredith, GK
Hometown: Scotch Plains, N.J.
Age: 30
Bio: Career backup in MLS with Seattle Sounders and San Jose Earthquakes. Played at Monmouth University.
A.J. DeLaGarza, D
Hometown: Bryans Road, Md.
Age: 32
Bio: Known for his versatility across the back line. Was a key player in the L.A. Galaxy’s three most recent MLS Cup titles (2011, 2012, 2014). Has played for U.S. and Guam national teams. Two-time national champion at University of Maryland. Was named 2014 MLS Humanitarian of the Year for his Luca Knows Heart campaign, started after he and his wife lost their newborn son to a congenital heart defect.
Grant Lillard, D
Hometown: Hinsdale, Ill.
Age: 24
Bio: Had a promising rookie season with the Chicago Fire, starting six games, but did not play as much his second season. Started all four years at Indiana University, where he was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and MAC Hermann Trophy finalist.
Christian Makoun, D
Hometown: Valencia, Venezuela
Age: 19
Bio: Played for Zamora FC in Venezuela’s first division, and also on the Venezuelan youth national teams. Versatile player can be effective as a defensive mid or center back. He was on loan in Italy with Juventus U-23 team last season.
Alvas Powell, D
Hometown: St. Thomas, Jamaica
Age: 25
Bio: Primarily plays right back, played 134 MLS matches with Portland from 2015-18, including the 2015 MLS Cup champion season and was with FC Cincinnati last season. Powell has played 35 games for the Jamaican national team since 2012.
Ben Sweat, D
Hometown: Palm Harbor, Fla.
Age: 28
Bio: All-time leader in appearances (78) at the University of South Florida before joining MLS as the No. 14 pick in the 2014 Super Draft. He played in 79 games for NYCFC, and two games for the U.S. national team in 2018, against Colombia and Peru.
Roman Torres, D
Hometown: Panama City, Panama
Age: 33
Bio: Panamanian national team captain Roman Torres, a center back, won two Major League Soccer championships with the Seattle Sounders in 2016 and 2019. He started in the Sounders’ three MLS Cup finals and scored the championship-winning penalty in the 2016 MLS Cup. Under his leadership, Panama qualified for its first-ever World Cup appearance. He scored the 88th minute winning goal against Costa Rica in the last qualifying game on Oct. 10, 2017 and played every minute of Panama’s World Cup appearance. He also played in seven Gold Cups. Torres spent three years (2012-2015) with Colombian club Millonarios, and played in four Copa Libertadores games.
Denso Ulysse, D
Hometown: Gonaives, Haiti
Age: 21
Bio: Haitian youth national team defender. Played 58 games for Tacoma Defiance of the USL from 2017-19 and earned USL All-League Second Team honors. He joined the Seattle Sounders academy from Haitian club Real Hope Football Academy du Cap-Haitien in March 2017. Known for his speed and ability to win the ball along the back line.
George Acosta, MF
Hometown: Miami
Age: 19
Bio: The only local player on the roster so far, Acosta played with Weston FC and IMG Academy youth teams, and is currently with Austin Bold FC of USL. Has been a regular on U.S. youth national teams since U14. Competed in U17 World Cup in India, and called up to U20 and U23 camps.
Luis Argudo, MF
Hometown: Queens, NY
Age: 23
Bio: Made 39 appearances for the Columbus Crew the past two seasons. Can play as a wing or central midfielder. Started 40 games for Wake Forest, and scored eight goals with six assists in 23 games his senior season. He also played two seasons at Elon University.
Jay Chapman, MF
Hometown: Toronto
Age: 25
Bio: Was a homegrown signing with Toronto FC, where he got valuable experience with a playoff club. Played for Canada’s U17 team and U23 team, and the senior national team. First-team All-American at Michigan State University in 2014.
Lee Nguyen, MF
Hometown: McKinney, Tex.
Age: 33
Bio: Creative, technical midfielder who finished third in MLS MVP voting in 2014 when he scored 18 goals with the New England Revolution, which reached the MLS Cup final. Has made nine appearances with the U.S. national team. Big Ten Freshman of the Year at Indiana University before heading to Europe, where he played for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league, Randers FC of the Danish League and then in Vietnam.
David Norman, Jr., MF
Hometown: New Westminster, Canada
Age: 21
Bio: Central midfielder who came up through the Vancouver Whitecaps academy from age 9, and reached the first team in 2019 after a season in USL. Played one season at Oregon State, and has represented Canada at U15 and U17 levels. Son of former Whitecaps player and Canadian international David Norman.
Matias Pellegrini, MF
(Young Designated Player)
Hometown: Magdalena, Argentina
Age: 19
Bio: Transferred from Argentine club Estudiantes, where he is a key player and made two Copa Libertadores appearances. Played for Argentina’s U17 and U20 teams. Attacking player known for his passing and ability to cover ground. Drew attention from several top teams in Europe.
Victor Ulloa, MF
Hometown: Wylie, Tex.
Age: 27
Bio: FC Dallas homegrown player anchored the Dallas midfield in 2014 and 2015. Is known for his locker room leadership. Spent last season with FC Cincinnati.
Juan Agudelo, F
Hometown: Born Manizales, Colombia, raised in Barnegat Township, N.J.
Age: 27
Bio: Spent six years with the New England Revolution and has played 28 matches for the U.S. national team. Began his career with the New York Red Bulls in 2010, traded to Chivas USA in 2012, went to the New England Revolution in 2013, Stoke City in 2014, was loaned to FC Utrecht, then returned to the Revolution in 2015. Represented the United States at the U17 World Cup and in 2010 was called up to the senior team. Became the youngest player to score for the U.S. national team when he scored a goal at age 18.
Julian Carranza, F
Hometown: Oncativo, Argentina
Age: 19
Bio: Transferred from Banfield of the Argentine league, where he scored 10 goals through 30 matches. Has trained with Argentina’s U17 team.
Jerome Kiesewetter, F
Hometown: Berlin, Germany
Age: 26
Bio: Speedy German-American dual national, began his career in Germany with Hertha Berlin, Stuttgart and Fortuna Dusseldorf before moving to the United States. Has played for U.S. national team and spent 2019 with USL club El Paso Locomotive, where he scored 12 goals in 28 games.
This story was originally published December 10, 2019 at 1:42 PM with the headline "Inter Miami has signed 21 players. Here’s who they are, and what to expect from them."