Portland Timbers acquire Kamal Miller in trade with Inter Miami: Sources

The Portland Timbers have acquired Canadian international center back Kamal Miller in a trade with Inter Miami, sources briefed on the deal said.

Miami will receive $625,000 in general allocation money (GAM) and an international roster spot, plus another $150,000 GAM in performance-based incentives, the sources said.

Miller, 26, spent most of 2023 with Miami after arriving in a trade from CF Montréal. He was a crucial piece of Miami’s Leagues Cup-winning squad, starting all seven games at the tournament. He made 35 appearances in all competitions.

All in all, Miller has made 110 MLS regular-season appearances between Miami, Montréal and Orlando City, the club that selected him in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.

Miller was key in Canada’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup, then played every minute in his country’s three group-stage games in Qatar. He has 41 caps for the national team.

The deal reunites Miller with new Portland head coach Phil Neville, who was the Miami coach when Miller was acquired in April. It gives the club a new defensive anchor for any formation, but also gives Neville more flexibility to play a three center back system at times if he chooses. Portland still has Dario Zuparic, Miguel Araujo and Zac McGraw as well.

As for Miami, the deal frees up further salary cap space as well as generates much-needed allocation money as they continue making moves heading into 2024. Luis Suarez has already been signed, while free agent Julian Gressel is a priority, among other changes for the new year. Tomás Avilés and Sergii Kryvtsov are expected to be Miami’s starting pair in central defense with Miller out.

(Photo: Roy Miller / ISI Photos / USSF / Getty Images for USSF)