Major League Soccer has launched an investigation into Inter Miami following allegations of tampering linked to the club’s signing of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro.
Inter Miami confirmed on Wednesday that the 34-year-old had joined the club on a contract running through the 2027 MLS season, with an option to extend the deal until June 2029. Casemiro became a free agent after leaving Manchester United at the end of last season.
Shortly after the transfer announcement, MLS revealed it had opened a formal review into the circumstances surrounding the move.
“The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete,” MLS said in a statement.
The investigation focuses on MLS discovery rights, a league mechanism that grants clubs priority to negotiate with players not currently in the competition. Each MLS team can maintain a discovery list of up to five players, giving them first refusal should one of those players decide to join the league.
Los Angeles Galaxy held Casemiro’s discovery rights before Inter Miami completed the transfer. Miami stated it had acquired those rights from the Galaxy, while the California club confirmed that both teams had reached a settlement over the discovery priority. The financial terms of that agreement will remain confidential until the MLS investigation is concluded.
Casemiro announced in January that he would leave Manchester United by mutual agreement after the 2026-27 campaign, ending a successful spell at Old Trafford. During his time with United, he made 160 appearances, scored 26 goals and registered 14 assists, helping the club win both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup.
Before arriving in England in 2022, the Brazilian enjoyed an illustrious career with Real Madrid, winning five UEFA Champions League titles. He also represented Brazil at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, where the national team reached the round of 16.
Speaking after his move to Miami was confirmed, Casemiro said his main motivation remained winning trophies and continuing to develop as a player.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham welcomed the signing, describing Casemiro as one of football’s proven winners and expressing his delight that the midfielder had chosen Miami for the next chapter of his career.
The Brazilian will reunite with former Real Madrid and Manchester United teammate Sergio Reguilón, while also joining a squad featuring Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul.
The case is not the first involving Inter Miami’s transfer activity. In 2021, the club received a $2 million fine after MLS found it had breached league roster and salary rules during the signing of French midfielder Blaise Matuidi from Juventus. The investigation concluded that Miami had effectively exceeded the league’s limit of three designated players by paying Matuidi beyond the permitted amount under MLS regulations.