MLS transfer roundup: Justin Meram joins Charlotte, Inter Miami extend roster
The Major League Soccer Primary Transfer Window may have closed on Monday, April 24, but the deals just keep on coming.
Though officially done before the deadline, teams are just now announcing the roster moves made for the remainder of the 2023 campaign.
Real Salt Lake let go of veteran forward Justin Meram, while Inter Miami continued to dig deep into their academy for some standout figures to climb the Eastern Conference table.
Here's all the transfers you missed...
1. Justin Meram joins Charlotte FC
Justin Meram is headed to Charlotte FC.
Real Salt Lake traded the veteran forward to the Eastern Conference club in exchange for $200,000 in guaranteed General Allocation Money, split across this season and next season, and an additional $150k in conditional-based GAM.
The deal was completed before the league’s Primary Transfer Window closed Monday, April 24.
Meram will now feature for his fifth Major League Soccer club, after raking up 51 goals and 52 assists 334 regular-season appearances with Columbus Crew, Orlando City, Atlanta United and RSL.
2. Portland Timbers sign MLS NEXT Pro player
The Portland Timbers extended their roster, adding midfielder Noel Caliskan through the 2023 MLS season with options in 2024 and 2025.
Caliskan first joined the organization after being selected as the number 15 overall pick of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft from Loyola Marymount University. He then signed a professional contract with the team’s MLS NEXT Pro affiliate T2, scoring three goals in four appearances to attract the senior squad’s attention.
The midfielder now joins Diego Chara, David Ayala and Cristhian Paredes to give head coach Giovanni Savarese options.
3. Inter Miami sign homegrown midfielder David Ruiz
Inter Miami acquired homegrown midfielder David Ruiz through the 2025 Major League Soccer season with options for 2026 and 2027.
But Ruiz is no stranger to the tea,, having played 17 minutes for the South Florida side in MLS regular-season action while called up on short-term loan deals.
“David is a good player who has grown a lot within our system over the last few years and has already shown he can compete at this level. We’re very excited to continue to help him along his upward trajectory at the club,” chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson said in a release.
“We feel we’re continuing to make great strides with our development pathway and we’re happy to have another young player like David come through it and reach the first team.”
Ruiz stands as Miami’s sixth academy product to sign with the first team.
4. D.C. United extends Steven Birnbaum
D.C. United have extended the contract of center-back Steven Birnbaum, keeping him at the club through the 2025 MLS season.
The captain first joined the Eastern Conference team in 2014, after being selected the second-overall pick in the MLS Superdraft. He has since become an integral part of the club, recording 256 appearances across all competitions for the Washington DC-based team. Birnbaum stands in third for most appearances, behind only Jaime Moreno (386) and Bill Hamid (297).
“Steven is in his 10th season with the team and continues to be one of the most consistent defenders in the league,” Dave Kasper, D.C. United president of soccer operations, said in a release.
“He is a leader in the locker room and in the D.C. community, so we’re excited to extend his contract through 2025 and continue having him as a stalwart in our backline."
This season, he’s featured in all nine games for D.C. United to propel the team to eighth place on the table.
“Steven has a massive influence on our team both on and off the field,” said D.C. United head coach Wayne Rooney. “From playing with him to now managing him, he continues to be one of the best defenders in the league week-in, week-out. I’m happy we could put pen to paper with him for another two years and I congratulate him for his years of service to the club.”