A U22 slot and a four-year bet
Inter Miami spent Wednesday buying time rather than immediate output. The club signed winger Riquelme Fillipi from Palmeiras on a contract running to the end of the 2029-30 season, with an option for 2030-31. No fee was disclosed.
Fillipi is 19 and arrives into a U22 Initiative slot, the mechanism that lets MLS clubs carry young talent at a reduced budget charge. His record in the Palmeiras academy is the reason for the deal: 30 goals and four assists in 80 appearances for the U-20 side. That is a goal every 2.7 games from a wide position, and returns like that make Brazilian clubs reluctant sellers.
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Miami paid twice to make room
The second half of Miami’s day was administrative and more revealing. The Herons bought an international roster slot from the New England Revolution for $200,000 in general allocation money, split evenly across 2026 and 2027.
Clubs do not spend allocation money on paperwork unless the roster is tight. Miami’s clearly is, and the Fillipi signing explains why they needed the room now rather than in December. New England, who had already committed to Daniel Gazdag on Tuesday, took the cash.
Chicago go the other way
The Fire made the day’s other move and picked an entirely different profile. Johan Gomez, 25, joins from Eintracht Braunschweig on a deal through 2028-29 with a club option for the season after.
The Texan brings 99 German league appearances, four goals and nine assists. Gregg Berhalter framed the appeal around volume and versatility rather than output, pointing to more than 100 senior appearances in Germany before the age of 26 as proof of consistency, and to a player who can fill several positions.
Gomez took a long road to get there. North Texas SC in USL League One, then Porto B in Portugal, then FSV Zwickau, before Braunschweig signed him in 2023-24. Chicago are buying a winger who has already had to earn his place in three countries.
Miami are buying one who has not yet had to earn it in any.
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