MIAMI, Fla. – Inter Miami made another move to strengthen its midfield Wednesday, adding Paraguayan international Matías Galarza on loan from Argentine club River Plate for the remainder of the 2026 Major League Soccer season.
The 24-year-old midfielder joins Inter Miami with a résumé that includes appearances in South America’s top club competitions and, most recently, a breakout performance for Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Inter Miami’s agreement includes an option to purchase Galarza at the end of the loan. The club said the transaction was completed before Wednesday’s closing of MLS’ secondary transfer window and is pending receipt of Galarza’s International Transfer Certificate and P-1 visa.
Galarza becomes the second player Inter Miami added on deadline day, joining Brazilian winger Riquelme Fillipi as the club continues to reshape its roster under new head coach Cristian Gonzalez.
The timing of Galarza’s arrival is particularly notable.
Just months ago, the midfielder was playing for Atlanta United on loan from River Plate. He appeared in 13 matches during the first half of the MLS season before returning to Argentina.
Then came the World Cup.
Galarza emerged as one of Paraguay’s most important players during the tournament, scoring a goal and recording an assist as Paraguay advanced to the Round of 16. His World Cup goal came against Türkiye, while he also contributed an assist against Germany.
The performance helped raise Galarza’s profile after his return to River Plate and ultimately brought him back to MLS this time to South Florida.
Galarza has been a fixture in Paraguay’s national team setup since making his senior debut in 2022. He has earned 19 caps for La Albirroja and previously represented the country at multiple youth levels.
His professional career began in Paraguay with Club Olimpia before taking him to Brazil, where he joined Vasco da Gama and made his professional debut. He later played for Coritiba and Talleres before eventually joining River Plate. Along the way, he gained experience in both the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.
Now, he returns to MLS with an opportunity to play alongside Lionel Messi and a Miami roster that has undergone significant changes during the summer.
Inter Miami has been active ahead of the stretch run, adding Galarza and Fillipi while also bringing in Brazilian midfielder Casemiro. The club is attempting to build enough depth to navigate the final portion of the regular season and make another run at the MLS Cup.
For Galarza, the move offers a chance to build on the momentum he created with Paraguay.
His first MLS stint came with Atlanta United. His second will come under significantly different circumstances, in Miami, alongside one of the world’s most recognizable players, and with Inter Miami looking to turn a revamped midfield into another championship push.
PHOTO CREDIT: Inter Miami Communications
