Inter Miami finalizing $15M Berterame transfer – after having Bouanga bid rejected: Sources – The Athletic
Inter Miami has reached an agreement on a deal to acquire Mexico international forward Germán Berterame from CF Monterrey, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.
All sides are exchanging paperwork over a proposed $15 million transfer, and the deal is expected to be completed before long, sources add. Berterame will be one of the top 10 most expensive transfers in MLS history.
Before Miami advanced on the deal for Berterame, the club cycled through potential targets to see what deals may be possible. As is typical for Miami, the club went big in its search.
Miami launched an audacious bid worth around $13 million for LAFC star Denis Bouanga, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic. LAFC rejected the offer out of hand and Bouanga isn’t looking to leave.
Bouanga would like a new contract with LAFC, sources add. He is under contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028, and LAFC insists the player is staying for the long-term.
Bouanga is one of the best players in MLS, scoring at least 20 regular-season goals in each of the last three seasons.
The 31-year-old joined LAFC in the summer of 2022. He got up to speed just in time to score the goal that clinched the club’s Supporters’ Shield that season and then played every minute in the club’s playoff run that ended with Bouanga and his teammates lifting MLS Cup.
The Gabon international winger was the league’s 19th highest-paid player in 2025, with guaranteed compensation of $3.7 million, according to the MLS Players Association. Bouanga was third in MLS MVP voting last year, won the 2023 MLS Golden Boot (while also being second in MVP voting) and has been named to the MLS Best XI each of the last three seasons.
Denis Bouanga, right, has combined with Son Heung-min to form one of MLS’s top attacking partnerships (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Berterame, 27, has been one of Liga MX’s better forwards for a number of years, initially arriving in Mexico from Argentina in 2019 with San Luis before joining Monterrey in 2022. He has 68 goals and 15 assists for Los Rayados since joining the club.
He had 27 goals across all competitions in 2025, including three at the FIFA Club World Cup. He has continued his scoring ways into 2026, with two goals in table-topping Monterrey’s first three matches of the Clausura.
It’s been a busy winter for Miami, as the club reloads from the Lionel Messi 1.0 era to 2.0. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba retired, opening two DP spots. Rodrigo De Paul’s loan was turned to a permanent deal for a fee worth around $17 million — currently the third-highest fee in MLS history — and soon Berterame will join with the third DP spot.
Miami already signed reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and Canadian international Dayne St. Clair this winter. It also sealed a deal to keep on-loan winger Tadeo Allende on a permanent transfer from Celta Vigo – crucially doing so without Allende becoming a DP – signed Brazilian center back Micael on loan from Palmeiras and acquired midfielder David Ayala in a trade with the Portland Timbers.
Earlier this winter, Miami signed former Tottenham left back Sergio Reguilon and Argentine right back Facundo Mura on free transfers.
