Inter Miami adds Colombian winger Emerson Rodriguez from Millonarios, re-signs Brek Shea

Inter Miami added two players to its revamped roster on Wednesday. One is a new face and the other a familiar face.

The club acquired 21-year-old winger Emerson Rodríguez from Colombian powerhouse Millonarios. He signed through the end of the 2025 MLS season, with a club option for 2026. Rodríguez was signed under MLS’s U22 Initiative and adds speed and an attacking threat.

“Emerson is an exciting, dynamic young talent that we are excited to welcome to Inter Miami. His quality reinforces our team’s attack to help us achieve our goals this upcoming season,” said Inter Miami chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson.

Also, the team announced the re-signing of 31-year-old versatile veteran Brek Shea to a one-year deal through 2022, with an option for 2023. Shea, who plays defender and midfielder, appeared in 43 games for Inter Miami in the first two seasons and started 23 times. He scored six goals and is a fan favorite. He has played in over 250 MLS matches and more than 80 games with the U.S. national team.

“We’re thrilled to have reached an agreement with Brek to return to our club,” Henderson said. “He’s a player that made key contributions on the pitch for Inter Miami throughout our first two seasons and adds talent and valuable experience to the First Team roster.”

Shea was selected No. 2 overall out of high school in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft and played for FC Dallas, Orlando City SC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Atlanta United FC. He earned 2011 MLS Best XI and 2011 MLS All-Star honors. In January 2013, Shea signed for English Premier League club Stoke City, was later loaned to English Championship team FC Barnsley and Birmingham City.

He returned to MLS in December 2014 to play for Orlando City. In 2017 he was traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps as a Designated Player. From there he went to Atlanta United and suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Rodríguez has spent his whole career in Colombia. He developed his game through Millonarios youth ranks before making his debut for the first team in 2020. He made 63 appearances and played in the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana, recording eight goals and eight assists.

Last season the Buenaventura, Colombia native played 39 matches for Los Millos, registering five goals and three assists. In 2019, prior to becoming a first team player for Millonarios, Rodríguez spent time on loan with Colombian second-tier side Valledupar Fútbol Club, making eight appearances.

Rodriguez is one of more than a dozen new players on the Miami roster heading into the 2022 season, which kicks off Feb. 26 at home against the Chicago Fire. Training camp opened on Monday.

Robbie Robinson on Chile call-up

Inter Miami forward Robbie Robinson does not regret accepting an invitation to the Chilean national team last summer, calling it “a great experience,” even though he left after a few days of training. That decision did not sit well with many fans of “La Roja” who expressed their displeasure on social media.

Robinson’s mother is Chilean, he holds dual U.S. and Chilean passports and could play for either country. He said he was not ready to commit, and had he played in Chile’s World Cup qualifiers he would have forfeited his chance to play for the U.S. team.

“Maybe the Chilean people did not like it, but it is my career and I make my own decisions,” he said. “I had never been in that kind of environment. I’ve been in the U.S. my whole life, but these people live for it. I don’t think it’s anything personal against me. I think they just wanted me to play on their team. You kind of have to take it as a compliment, almost, about this hate because they really want you.”