Inter Miami sign versatile free agent Julian Gressel to three-year contract | OneFootball

Inter Miami have signed two-time MLS Cup winner Julian Gressel on a free transfer from Columbus Crew to a three-year contract through the 2026 season.

Gressel joins the Herons after spending the second half of the 2023 season with the Crew, where he helped the Eastern Conference side lift MLS Cup over LAFC in December. He made nine starts for Columbus during the regular season, registering one goal and one assist before making four postseason appearances in the Crew's run to the title.

Gressel, who can play as a winger, full-back, wing-back and midfielder, brings plenty of experience and versatility to a Miami side that will need him during the course of their jam-packed 2024 season. The deal for Gressel also contains an option for the 2027 season.

"Julian is an established player with a winning track record in the league who has proven himself at every stage during his MLS career," said chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson in a release.

"We are pleased to add him to our squad as his versatility and quality delivery will bolster Inter Miami as we look to build on the successes of last season in 2024."

Gressel has spent his entire professional career in MLS, starting out with Atlanta United where he was drafted eighth overall in the 2017 SuperDraft. He went on to be a huge success with the Five Stripes before being traded to DC United in January 2020.

The 30-year-old managed 118 appearances (sixth-most in team history) for Atlanta, registering 20 goals and 36 assists as he helped the Eastern Conference team lift 2018 MLS Cup as well as the 2019 US Open Cup and 2019 Campeones Cup. Gressel's 36 assists are the most in Atlanta's history despite last playing for the club in late 2019.

"I'm thrilled to be joining such an ambitious organization as Inter Miami for this new chapter in my career," said Gressel.

"I'm ready to get to work and use my experience in this league to help my new teammates and this great Club achieve its dream of winning more titles."

Gressel then spent the next two-and-a-half seasons with DC United via a trade, where he suited up for the Black and Red 73 times, adding four goals and 16 assists before being traded again to Vancouver Whitecaps in July 2022.

Although he spent roughly one calendar year with Vancouver, he was able to lift two Canadian Cup Championships in 2022 and 2023 to add to his trophy haul. Gressel tallied seven goals and nine assists for the Whitecaps before being traded for the third time in his career to the Crew.

Gressel boasts 213 regular season appearances in MLS, scoring 25 goals and dishing out 66 assists during his time with four different clubs in his eight-year career.

Miami continue to add to their star-studded squad that contains Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and now Gressel as they're set to compete in four different competitions in 2024.