Leerdam added to defensive mix
Inter Miami CF have added another former Seattle Sounders defender to their roster, signing Kelvin Leerdam to a three-year deal on Tuesday.
Leerdam, a 30-year-old right back, was a free agent after his contract with the Seattle Sounders expired following the 2020 season.
Inter Miami acquired his right of first refusal from the Sounders for $50,000 of general allocation money in 2021 and $25,000 of allocation money in 2022.
The club also signed former Arsenal left back Kieran Gibbs on Tuesday.
Leerdam spent four seasons with Seattle, winning the MLS Cup (2019) and three Western Conference titles (2017, ‘19, ‘20) during his time with the Sounders.
He’s currently with the Suriname national team for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers this week and will join Inter Miami afterward.
Leerdam is the second former Sounders defender to join Inter Miami during the preseason, with former Seattle left back Joevin Jones signing with the club two weeks ago.
Chris Henderson, Inter Miami chief soccer officer and sporting director, was the Sounders’ vice president of soccer and sporting director when Seattle signed Leerdam and brought him to MLS in July 2017.
“Kelvin is a dynamic, attacking full back with a lot of winning experience in this league,” Henderson said in a statement. “He is a great addition to our roster and we are looking forward to integrating him to the team following his national team duties.”
Leerdam made 84 starts in 91 regular-season appearances for the Sounders. He scored the opening goal in Seattle’s win over Toronto FC in the 2019 MLS Cup final.
He played for Dutch clubs Vitesse and Feyenoord, both of which play in the top soccer division in the Netherlands, before coming to MLS. Born in Suriname and raised in the Netherlands, Leerdam played for the Dutch U-19 and U-21 national teams before deciding to represent Suriname on the senior level.
Leerdam described himself as an “attacking player” who likes to score goals even as a defender.
He recorded nine goals and 12 assists during his time with Seattle.
“I like to attack,” Leerdam said. “That’s what I play football for. Although I’ve played a big part of my career on defense and in midfield, the joy of scoring a goal is what makes me [want] to play football.”
And his playing style fits what Inter Miami coach Phil Neville wants from his full backs.
“Phil asks us as outside backs to get high and wide as much as possible,” Inter Miami left back Patrick Seagrist said on Tuesday, “but making sure we’re waiting in the right situations when to go forward and when to make those forward passes. A key emphasis is being patient and when it’s not on, being able to change the point of attack as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
Leerdam will likely slot in as Inter Miami’s starting right back. Nico Figal, who started at right back multiple times last season, will presumably start at his natural position of center back alongside Leandro González Pirez. Dylan Nealis is another rightback option.
Inter Miami have filled 28 of their 30 roster slots as of Tuesday after Leerdam’s signing.
They’re training in Fort Lauderdale and are scheduled to leave South Florida on Friday for practices and closed-door friendlies throughout the state starting on Saturday versus the Tampa Bay Rowdies — a USL Championship team — at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg.
Inter Miami will play three more closed-door matches at IMG Academy in Bradenton: versus the Charleston Battery — another USL Championship team — on March 30, the New York Red Bulls (April 3) and Nashville SC (April 3).
They’ll return to South Florida for the final two weeks of preseason and are expected to host a final preseason match the weekend of April 10. The details for the final friendly, and whether it’ll be open to fans, will be announced at a later date.
Inter Miami will kick off their second season with their home opener versus the LA Galaxy on April 18 at Inter Miami CF Stadium.