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De Bruyne to Inter Miami? Club Secures Discovery Rights for Premier League Star
Speculation is mounting that Kevin De Bruyne, the celebrated Manchester City midfielder, could potentially join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). Recent reports indicate that the Florida-based club has acquired the discovery rights for the Belgian international, positioning themselves to negotiate with De Bruyne should he contemplate a move to MLS.
Inter Miami Obtains Discovery Rights for De Bruyne
Reports from The Athletic and ESPN surfaced on Monday detailing Inter Miami’s acquisition of De Bruyne’s discovery rights. This strategic move grants Inter Miami priority in contract negotiations with the player if he decides to transition to MLS after his tenure with Manchester City. Inter Miami has not officially commented on these reports.
The MLS discovery process is a mechanism that allows each team to identify and secure negotiation rights for up to five players who are not currently under contract with MLS. Initially, expansion club San Diego FC held De Bruyne’s discovery rights. However, according to GiveMeSport, they removed him from their list earlier in the year, as he was deemed not to align with their team objectives.
Salary Structure and Roster Constraints
A significant factor in any potential transfer is De Bruyne’s salary expectations. His current earnings at Manchester City are reportedly around £20 million ($25.5 million) annually. This figure would likely make him the highest-paid player in MLS, surpassing Messi’s $20 million compensation.
Even with a potential salary reduction, MLS roster rules present certain limitations for Inter Miami. The standard maximum salary per player in MLS is just over $740,000 annually. However, various mechanisms permit clubs to compensate players beyond this threshold.
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Designated Player Rule and Allocation Money
The most prominent of these mechanisms is the Designated Player (DP) rule. This rule allows each MLS team to sign up to three DPs whose salaries can exceed the maximum budget charge. While their full salaries are paid by the club, they only count against the salary cap at the maximum salary level. Messi, for instance, occupies a DP slot, but his cap hit is only $740,000.
De Bruyne’s anticipated wage demands would undoubtedly classify him as a DP. Currently, Inter Miami’s three DP slots are filled by Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets. This situation might impede De Bruyne’s potential arrival as a DP this summer. However, it’s noteworthy that all three current DP contracts expire after the 2025 season, potentially opening future opportunities.
Alternative Pathways: TAM and GAM
Another possible approach for Inter Miami to acquire De Bruyne this summer involves utilizing Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and General Allocation Money (GAM). These mechanisms provide teams with additional flexibility in their salary budget by allowing them to reduce a player’s salary cap impact. By using GAM and/or TAM, Miami could potentially lower De Bruyne’s salary charge below the maximum budget threshold.
The precise amount of TAM and GAM available to Inter Miami is currently unclear. Public records indicate that Inter Miami has approximately $3.1 million in GAM available. Each MLS team received $2.2 million in TAM at the beginning of 2025. Inter Miami currently lists six players, including Luis Suárez, whose budget charges have been reduced using TAM, suggesting their current TAM reserves may be limited.
Precedent for Star Player Acquisitions
Historically, there are examples of high-profile players joining MLS on non-DP contracts initially and later transitioning to DP status. Zlatan Ibrahimović famously joined LA Galaxy on a TAM deal midway through the 2018 season before signing a DP contract for the 2019 season. Similarly, Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba initially joined the club on a TAM-level contract in the same transfer window as Messi in 2023. Alba’s contract was subsequently extended, and he was then designated as a DP.