Inter Miami announced the signing of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, a five‑time Champions League winner, on Wednesday. MLS is now probing whether the reigning champion engaged in improper tampering to secure the deal.
The 34‑year‑old Casemiro, who started all five of Brazil’s matches at this year’s World Cup and scored against Japan in the round of 16, has signed a contract with Inter Miami through the end of the 2027 sprint season, with an option to extend through June 2029.
MLS is shifting to a summer‑to‑spring schedule that will run from July to May, following the global calendar. To bridge the 2026 campaign and the full 2027‑28 season, the league introduced the 2027 Sprint Season—a 14‑match, one‑off tournament staged from February to May 2027.
Casemiro’s discovery rights were owned by the LA Galaxy, which under league rules would normally block Inter Miami from negotiating his contract. The two clubs reached a settlement that enabled the deal to proceed, though MLS continues to investigate potential tampering.
MLS stated that it is collecting all relevant information and will not comment further until the review is finished. While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have settled their dispute over discovery priority for Casemiro, the financial terms of the agreement will be disclosed after the tampering investigation concludes.
A debut date for Casemiro remains uncertain as he awaits a work visa. Inter Miami indicated that the paperwork is still pending.
Casemiro spent the last four seasons with Manchester United after a lengthy tenure at Real Madrid, where he amassed multiple titles.
“He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game, and after an illustrious spell with Real Madrid and Manchester United, I’m delighted he’s chosen to make Miami his next home,” Inter Miami co‑owner David Beckham said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
