Inter Miami signs Micael, negotiating deals for David Ayala, Tristan Blackmon
Inter Miami continues to strengthen its roster on the heels of its first league championship, confirming on Wednesday the signing of Brazilian center back Micael dos Santos (known, simply, as Micael) from Palmeiras.
According to multiple league sources, the club has agreed to terms with Argentine midfielder David Ayala of the Portland Timbers and a club source added that Miami was finalizing a $2.5 million deal for MLS Defender of the Year Tristan Blackmon of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Axel Schuster, the Whitecaps CEO and Sporting Director, denied in a statement sent to media that a deal for Blackmon was imminent: “Since the end of last season, several clubs from both domestic and international markets have contacted us to express interest in our players...We have neither actively sought nor do we intend to seek the sale of any additional players...Therefore, we firmly reject reports suggesting that we are close to completing the transfer of any of our players. The situation is, in fact, the exact opposite.”
Micael joins Miami on loan through the end of the 2026 MLS season, with an option to make the transfer permanent at the conclusion of the loan. He previously played in MLS for the Houston Dynamo.
Ayala is a 23-year-old Argentine left-footed defensive midfielder who spent the past three seasons with the Timbers and considers Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano one of his idols and mentors.
Inter Miami is paying a $2 million transfer fee to get Ayala, who signed with Portland under the U22 Initiative, which allows clubs to sign lucrative contracts for young prospects at a reduced salary roster cost, which frees up salary cap space.
Before joining Portland, Ayala spent three seasons with Estudiantes de La Plata in Argentina, where Mascherano took him under his wing during the final stop of his playing career.
Ayala made his professional debut in 2019 at the age of 17, the second-youngest player to achieve a senior debut with Estudiantes. Ayala has played for Argentina’s youth national teams and is quite familiar to Mascherano and his staff.
If Blackmon lands in Miami, it would be a big signing. Blackmon, 29, started 23 of 25 games for the Whitecaps during the regular season and was named to the MLS All-Star Game.
He led all Whitecaps FC players with 36 clearances, was third with 37 aerial challenges won and added two game-winning goals – on the road against FC Dallas (March 15) and at home against Real Salt Lake (May 3). He appeared in 11 of Vancouver’s 13 shutouts.
Blackmon was called up to the U.S. national team in 2025, starting both matches during the September international window, which included a 2-0 win against Japan where he played 83 minutes.
Micael, a 25-year-old left-footed defender, was sold by MLS club Houston Dynamo to Brazilian power Palmeiras in February 2025 for a transfer fee reported to be in the $5 million range.
He made 28 appearances for Palmeiras across all competitions, including the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Campeonato Paulista, Copa Libertadores, Copa do Brasil, and the FIFA Club World Cup, where he faced Inter Miami in the group stage.
A native of São Paulo, Micael began his professional career in Brazil’s lower divisions, featuring for Inter de Limeira and Independente Limeira. He then moved to top-flight Atlético Mineiro on loan in 2019, before securing a permanent transfer in 2020.
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Between 2021 and 2022, Micael featured during a highly successful period for Atlético Mineiro, helping the club capture multiple honors, including the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (2021), Copa do Brasil (2021), Campeonato Mineiro (2021, 2022), and the Supercopa do Brasil (2022).
Other Inter Miami newcomers include Argentine right back Facundo Mura, who signed through June 2029, and MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair from Minnesota United.
Mura, 26, was a free agent after three seasons with Racing Club. He previously played for Estudiantes de la Plata and Atletico Colon. He represented Argentina in the 2019 U20 World Cup and the 2020 South American U20 championship.
St. Clair joined Inter Miami through the 2026 season with an option for the 2027 sprint season (which ends June 2027). He was a free agent.
St. Clair, 28, plays for the Canadian national team and is in contention to be the starting keeper for the 2026 World Cup. St. Clair had a phenomenal 2025 season. He posted 10 clean sheets, conceded 30 goals in 30 matches and was a key reason the Loons finished fourth in the Western Conference and reached the conference semifinals.
Last month, Inter Miami signed Spanish left back Sergio Reguilon, a 28-year-old free agent who previously played for Real Madrid and Tottenham. He signed with Miami through 2027, with an extension option through 2028.
Inter Miami opens training camp in mid-January and kicks off a three-game South American preseason tour on Jan. 24 with a game against Alianza Lima in Peru, followed by a Jan. 31 game against Atletico Nacional in Colombia and a Feb. 7 game against Barcelona de Guayaquil in Ecuador.
Miami opens the 2026 MLS season on the road Feb. 21 at Los Angeles FC and will play the first five games away from home while construction of Miami Freedom Park Stadium is completed.
The first home game in the new stadium is scheduled for Apr. 4 against Austin FC. In mid-March, Inter Miami will compete in the Concacaf Champions Cup. They got a bye to the Round of 16 and will play at Nashville SC or Atletico Ottawa March. 11 in the first leg and return to Chase Stadium for the second leg Mar. 18.
Inter Miami ticket information for the 2026 season can be found at intermiamicf.com/tickets/mfp
This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 3:52 PM.