Inter Miami signs goalkeeper Callender to contract extension
Inter Miami heads into the 2023 season with goalkeeper Drake Callender locked in for at least a few more years.
The club announced Tuesday morning that it had signed 2022 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year finalist Callender to a contract extension through the 2025 MLS season, with an option for 2026.
“We are pleased to sign Drake to a new contract; his development as a player in his first three years at the Club has been fantastic and we are excited to see him continue leading the line for many years to come,” said chief soccer officer Chris Henderson. “Drake had a very strong season last year and we are confident he will continue to be an integral member of the team as we work towards achieving our goals throughout the 2023 season.”
Callender began the 2022 season as a backup to Nick Marsman, had a poor game against CF Montreal in preseason, but kept working, stepped up when
Marsman got injured and wound up keeping the starting position.
“Drake had a game in [2022] preseason where he struggled quite a bit and if anyone had watched that game, they might have said, ‘OK, this is it for him.’ ” said defender Aime Mabika, one of Callender’s best friends on the team. “But knowing Drake and talking to him after that game, he remained positive. He was like, ‘I’m going to get through this,’ and nine months later, he was a candidate for Goalkeeper of the Year.
“So, that’s the best way to describe Drake. He’s very serene in his thinking. He’s cerebral. He went through a lot.”
Coach Phil Neville played at Manchester United with former U.S. national team goalkeeper Tim Howard and said Callender reminds him of Howard in many ways.
“He rose to the challenge, became our No. 1, had a fantastic season and I think he’s got incredible potential,” said Neville, who added that he was surprised Callender was not named to the recent post-World Cup U.S. national team camp. “I think he is the next generation USA keeper. I see great similarities between Tim and Drake. Drake’s got a long way to go, his development is still on the trajectory up and we expect big things from him.”
Callender said signing the contract extension was “a huge honor and big moment” in his career.
“The environment Inter Miami has created here has allowed me to excel on and off the field,” he said. “To be a part of a club that has people pushing you to be your best every single day is a blessing because it’s allowed me to adapt and grow into the person I am today.”
Callender, 25, of Sacramento, played four years at Cal-Berkeley. He joined Miami in December 2019 before the club’s inaugural season. After two seasons in the club’s reserve Inter Miami CF II team, he moved up to the first team.
He started 24 regularseason games and one playoff game last season and made the MLS Team of the Week three times. He made match-winning saves in the late stages of matches against Columbus
Crew and D.C. United, followed by a clean sheet against Toronto FC.
Inter Miami has a closed-door scrimmage against CF Montreal on Wednesday and a final preseason game, open to the public, on Saturday at 4 p.m. against Austin FC at DRV PNK Stadium.
The regular season opens at home Feb. 25 against Montreal. Tickets are available at intermiamicf.com
ROSTER NOTES
Neville confirmed there has been interest in midfielder Gregore from Brazilian clubs, but “he’s going nowhere” and the club is
working on signing him to a new contract. “He’s our captain. He’s the heart of this team. He epitomizes our culture. You don’t let people like him go, unless someone comes in with an absolute crazy bid.”
The coach also said he doesn’t anticipate any more roster changes before the season opener.
“The shop is closed. Our roster is full. I am incredibly happy with the players we’ve got.”
Sources confirmed the club is still in talks with FC Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets and Argentine star Lionel Messi, both of whose contracts expire in June.