TRANSFER TRACKER:Signing
After reports surfaced earlier in the week, Inter Miami CF made the signing of Panamanian center back Roman Torres official on Sunday afternoon.
Torres, 33, joins the expansion club as a free agent after a five-year stint with the Seattle Sounders that included MLS Cup titles in 2016 and 2019. The veteran defender made 83 appearances across all competitions for Seattle, though did miss a 10-game spell last season for using a performance-enhancing drug.
“Roman is an established leader whose quality, winning mentality and experience have led him to win multiple MLS titles, become the captain that qualified Panama to their first-ever World Cup and earn numerous individual recognitions,” said Inter Miami CF sporting director Paul McDonough. “He will solidify our backline and add leadership to Inter Miami ahead of the historic inaugural season.”
Since debuting with Panama’s national team in 2005, Torres has made 119 appearances and famously scored the game-winning goal that booked their spot in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He’s twice been named to the Concacaf Best XI, and enjoyed spells at Colombian sides Millonarios, La Equidad, Atletico Junior and Atletico Nacional before joining Seattle.
By signing Torres, Miami adds another experienced MLS defender to their first roster. The backline already includes former Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza, ex-New York City FC outside back Ben Sweat and right back Alvas Powell, who spent 2019 at expansion side FC Cincinnati after previously playing for the Portland Timbers.
The group also features highly-rated Venezuelan youth international Christian Makoun, ex-Chicago Fire FC center back Grant Lillard and ex-Atlanta United left back Mikey Ambrose. They’re all preparing for the club’s first MLS match March 1 at LAFC.
