Miami in talks with U.S. team’s Yedlin
Inter Miami’s chief soccer officer Chris Henderson hinted when the club traded defender Christian Makoun to Charlotte FC a few weeks ago that the deal would position the club for “potentially exciting moves that will strengthen the roster.”
Another team source told the Miami Herald at the time that “an exciting player” would likely come out of the trade via the MLS Allocation List. In exchange for Makoun, Miami got the No. 1 spot in the MLS Allocation Ranking, which gives the club first dibs at a long list of select U.S. Men’s National Team players, youth U.S. National Team players and former MLS players returning to the league.
The exciting player who may be on his way to Miami is U.S. national team defender DeAndre Yedlin, a Seattle native and former Seattle Sounder whom Henderson knows well from his long time at the club. SBIsoccer.com and MiamiTotalFutbol were the first to report the news, and a league source confirmed to the Herald that the two sides are talking.
Yedlin, 28, last played in MLS in 2014 and has since spent time in England with Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland and Newcastle United and in Turkey, where he played the past two seasons for Galatasaray. He has played in 26 games in the Turkish league and scored one goal.
He has also made more than 70 appearances for the U.S. national team. It had been reported for quite some time that Yedlin,
whose partner was expecting a baby, was interested in returning to the United States. Speculation was that he would wind up back in Seattle, but apparently his relationship with Henderson led him to negotiate a deal with Miami.
Reports out of Turkey said Yedlin will reach a buyout agreement with Galatasaray, which will make him a free agent. He would add speed and experience to a revamped Inter Miami squad that added many young players.
FRIENDLY ON WEDNESDAY
Inter Miami fans will get their first preview of the new-look roster on Wednesday night when the team plays a friendly against Peruvian first division Club Universitario de Deportes (“La U”) at DRV PNK Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
Season Ticket Members will be contacted and receive discounted rates for the preseason game. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Saturday at 10 a.m. Complimentary parking will be available on a first-come, firstserved basis while supplies last.
Inter Miami opened training camp this week and plays a closed-door scrimmage Saturday against the Columbus Crew. There are two other closed scrimmages scheduled for Jan. 29 against D.C. United and Feb. 4 against CF Montreal. Fans are invited to an Open Training event on Feb. 5 before the team heads to Charleston, South Carolina, for a 10-day camp and preseason matches against Columbus, Charleston Battery and Charlotte FC.