Inter Miami bring in promising Ecuadorian striker Allen Obando

Lionel Messi has a new partner in attack. Inter Miami has finalized the loan deal for 18-year-old forward Allen Obando, who arrives from Barcelona SC.

The Atlético Madrid Group has acquired his rights for approximately $3 million. Obando will spend the 2025 season on loan with Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) before potentially joining Liga MX club Atlético San Luis or exploring other opportunities in Europe. He is expected to undergo his medical examination in Fort Lauderdale later this week.

The back-and-forth negotiations between Inter Miami and Atlético San Luis have finally concluded. As previously reported, Inter Miami was pushing for a direct signing but ultimately settled for a loan agreement.

Allen Obando to be given a secondary role in Miami

The young talent from Esmeraldas is seen as an ideal impact player for Inter Miami, a role previously held by his compatriot Leo Campana. While Obando isn’t expected to start immediately, the long season ahead, including this summer’s Club World Cup, should provide him with valuable playing time.

Obando arrives as one of Ecuador’s brightest young talents. During his two seasons with Barcelona SC, he scored four goals and dished out three assists across 23 matches. In Ecuador’s national youth teams, he’s seen as a standout player and is widely regarded as the natural successor to Enner Valencia in the coming years.

Obando’s international career with Ecuador

At just 17 years old, he made his senior national team debut under Félix Sánchez Bas, coming on for the last 11 minutes of the 2-0 friendly win against Guatemala in New Jersey on March 21 last year. He made his second appearance for the senior side a couple of days later against Italy in another friendly.

Although he has yet to be called up by current coach Sebastián Beccacece, a strong performance in Miami could very well open that door for him permanently.

Miami has emerged as the go-to destination for South America’s rising soccer stars in recent years. Notable examples include Diego Gómez, who was sold to Brighton and Hove Albion for nearly $20 million, Federico Redondo, and fellow Ecuadorian Leo Campana, now a standout player for the New England Revolution in MLS.

This season, head coach Javier Mascherano will also have two promising talents under the MLS U-23 initiative: Telasco Segovia, arriving from Casa Pia, and Baltasar Rodríguez, from Racing. Inter Miami is fast shaping up to be a launching pad for the future stars of global soccer.

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