MIAMI — Drake Callender, Inter Miami’s starting goalkeeper for the club’s record-breaking run to the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield and the 2023 Leagues Cup title, was traded to Charlotte FC, a club source confirmed Tuesday night.

Callender, 27, has been injured most of this season, started only three games and has been out since having sports hernia surgery in April. He got injured during a January U.S. national team camp and lost the starting job to 39-year-old Argentine Oscar Ustari, a friend of Lionel Messi’s who stepped up and played well in Callender’s absence.

Ustari joined the team in September 2024 and has been praised for his leadership skills on and off the field. In late May, he signed a contract extension through 2026 with guaranteed compensation of $744,000. Callender was making $455,913.

Ustari missed a few recent games with a hamstring injury, and third-string keeper Rocco Rios Novo rose to the occasion, which apparently made Callender more expendable. Tom Bogert of GiveMeSport was the first to report the news.

Callender played a club-record 118 games for Inter Miami and was the only player left from the club’s original 2020 roster. He gave up 183 goals and had 19 shutouts.

The California native was co-captain of the team in 2023 and 2024, and kept Miami in many games with big saves.

“Drake was always a great teammate, he was here from the start when I moved up to the first team, and I am grateful for him,” said midfielder Benja Cremaschi. “I want to wish him all the best in this new stage. I know this year has been difficult for him due to the injuries and the surgery. Hopefully he can return quickly to the field because he’s a great goalkeeper and a great leader.

“We’ll have a chance to face his new team, so we will see him again. These are things that happen in the sport.”

Callender, who worked his way up from the second team to the first team three years ago, was the hero of the 2023 Leagues Cup and a big reason the team remained atop the standings through the 2024 MLS season.

“He speaks the international language, which is 'He’s a badass,’ ” Henry Foulk, Callender’s college goalkeeping coach at Cal Berkeley, said last year. “These high-profile players are great, but they’re aging, not as fast as they used to be, can’t jump as high, and they know Drake can stop the ball and he’s going to bail their ass out of some tough situations.”

Foulk lauded Callender’s style of play.

“The great keepers go from having strong, hard hands to having soft, shock-absorbing hands,” Foulk said. “Some guys bang balls out with flair but give up a lot more rebounds. Drake goes all out to get the ball and right when he gets there, he takes a deep breath for a fraction of a second and is then able to absorb the velocity of the ball, bring it in, collect and catch it.”

Despite his impressive resume in previous seasons, his injury struggles and Ustari’s performance kept him out of Miami’s plans. He will have to fight for a starting spot in Charlotte, as well, as that team has the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Kristijan Kahlina.

Callender isn’t the only Inter Miami player on his way out. According to multiple reports, Argentine midfielder Fede Redondo is headed to Spanish La Liga club Elche, which is owned by his agent, Christian Bragarnik, an Argentinean businessman. He was not at training on Tuesday.

Soccer journalist Cesar Luis Merlo reported that Redondo was sold for a $2.5 million transfer fee, which is half of what Miami reportedly paid for him last year. Redondo was making a base salary of $732,000 this season and guaranteed compensation of $837,000.

Redondo, 22, was a member of Argentina’s U23 national team and is the son of former Real Madrid great Fernando Redondo. Despite his pedigree and high expectations, he had trouble keeping a starting job in a loaded midfield roster that includes Sergio Busquets, Yannick Bright, Cremaschi and the recently-signed Rodrigo De Paul, a star on Argentina’s national team.

“Fede and I have a great relationship, all of us younger players have a fabulous relationship and get along great,” Cremaschi said. “He's always someone who wanted to get together away from work. I want to thank him for all did for the club and wish him all the best. I think it will go well for him in Spain. It will be a great challenge for him and we will stay in touch and keep following his career.”

Merlo also reported that Inter Miami is in advanced talks with Mexican team Cruz Azul to sign Argentine defender Gonzalo Piovi.

Messi status for Galaxy game

Messi, who missed the past two games with a mild thigh injury, trained with the team on Wednesday. His status for the home game Saturday against the L.A. Galaxy is unknown, but coach Javier Mascherano said late last week that they hoped he would be back in time for the Galaxy game or the Leagues Cup quarterfinal Wednesday against Mexican club Tigres.

De Paul absent from training

Newly signed midfielder Rodrigo De Paul was not at practice on Tuesday morning. He was busy getting his visa paperwork stamped. Forward Allen Obando, who has been dealing with leg injuries for months, trained individually and was not with the group.

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