Inter Miami has traded striker Leonardo Campana to the New England Revolution for $2.5 million in general allocation money, the team announced Thursday. The amount is an MLS record deal for general allocation money.
Miami will receive $2 million in GAM in 2025 and $500,000 in 2026, in addition to a 2025 international roster slot and a 2026 international roster slot.
The Ecuadorean international scored 28 goals and provided eight assists across three seasons with Miami. Campana, 24, was signed on loan from the Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2022. He agreed to a permanent deal in 2023. In September of last year, Campana signed an extension with Miami through the 2028 season.
Miami will retain a sell-on percentage if Campana is sold abroad and could receive up to $750,000 in GAM if Campana meets certain performance-based incentives. Campana was behind Luis Suárez on Miami’s striker depth chart, but he was given opportunities to play significant minutes under former manager Tata Martino. He was a trusted alternative for the Argentine.
Suarez played a total of 1,920 regular season minutes in 27 matches in 2024. In 28 regular season appearances, Campana logged 1,275 total minutes. Suarez recently signed for one additional season in Miami, which left the technical left-footed Campana staring at a role off the bench under new head coach Javier Mascherano. But Campana, now recognized in MLS as a player with high potential, was a good piece to have.
Depth across the roster was an issue for Miami throughout a congested 2024 season that was highlighted by numerous injuries. In 2025, the club will play even more matches, including the inaugural Club World Cup next summer.
“The General Allocation Money will allow us to continue to strengthen our roster for the 2025 Season,” said President of Football Operations Raúl Sanllehí in a club press release.
While $2.5 million in GAM will certainly help, a player with Campana’s profile, at 24 years of age, could potentially be valued much higher on the transfer market. Miami, though, is in a position to consider trades if they hope to sign new players this winter and abide by MLS’ stringent roster regulations.
On Thursday, Campana’s agent Gonzalo Vargas told Ecuadorean television show Uno A Uno that four MLS clubs were interested in signing Campana, but that the player was living his dream of playing alongside Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Suarez and Jordi Alba.
“But I’ll be honest,” Vargas said, “Leo won’t settle for that. He’s preparing himself. He’s fighting for a place with his national team and wants to play in a World Cup. He wants a bigger role and minutes that will allow him to score more than 15 goals a season. If the new coach Mascherano wants to play with a lone center forward, well, we’ll have to look at our options so that (Campana) can play and be an important player at another club that wants to depend on his characteristics.”
Miami should welcome attacking midfielder Facundo Farías back to the first team after the Argentine tore his left anterior cruciate ligament last January. Messi is listed as a forward, but between him and Suarez, the options at striker are nearly extremely thin. The boost in GAM and the two additional international roster slots open the door to the club signing a new No. 9 to compete with Suarez.
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(Photo: Sam Navarro / Imagn Images)
