Welcome, Leandro González Pirez

Stalwart center back returns to MLS aiming to continue North American championship record

Por Inter Miami CF

01 de July de 2020

MIAMI, Fla. (July 1, 2020) - Inter Miami CF announced today the signing of 2018 MLS Cup and 2019 U.S. Open Cup-winning defender Leandro González Pirez via transfer from Liga MX side Club Tijuana, using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and the Club’s No. 1 spot in the MLS Allocation Ranking to sign the player. The center back returns to Major League Soccer (MLS) to add quality and a winning track record to the Club’s defensive line.

“Leandro is a stalwart defender that has proven to not only be a great leader on and off the pitch, but he’s also determined to succeed and win championships,” said Paul McDonough, Inter Miami CF’s COO & Sporting Director. “He joins us in great form and is ready to contribute.”

González Pirez will travel with the club to Orlando but will not be eligible for the MLS is Back Tournament in accordance with Major League Soccer’s Two-Day Transfer Window.

González Pirez, 28, became one of MLS’ most dominant defenders as he starred in Atlanta United FC’s backline between 2017 and 2019. Aided by his leadership, Atlanta United qualified to the MLS playoffs in its inaugural 2017 season, won the 2018 MLS Cup, the 2019 U.S. Open Cup and the 2019 Campeones Cup. Individually, González Pirez was named to the 2019 MLS All-Star team and was nominated to the MLS Defender of the Year award twice in three years (2017 and 2018). Outside of MLS, the center back has recorded over 120 appearances, featuring for top flight Argentine sides Club Atlético River Plate, Club Atlético Tigre, Arsenal Fútbol Club and Club Estudiantes de La Plata, Belgium’s KAA Gent and LigaMX’s Club Tijuana. On the international stage, the Buenos Aires, Argentina, native has represented his home country at the U-17, U-20 and U-22 levels.

The 6-foot-1 center back came through the youth ranks at Argentine first division giants Club Atlético River Plate before making his professional debut for the senior side in March of 2011. With the club, González Pirez registered one goal in 35 appearances and helped the team win the Primera B Nacional title in the 2011-2012 season, getting promoted back to Argentine first division. During his time at River Plate, the defender went out on loan twice, in 2013 to Belgian Pro League side KAA Gent and in 2014 to Argentine first division team Arsenal Fútbol Club, where he made five appearances in the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores, the most important competition at club level in South America.

In January 2015, González Pirez joined Club Atlético Tigre of the Argentine first division on a permanent transfer. He spent one year with the team, playing 32 matches, scoring two goals and getting valuable experience by playing in another major international competition like the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana. González Pirez moved to fellow Argentine first division team Club Estudiantes de La Plata in January 2016, where he played 10 games.

A year later in January 2017, González Pirez joined Atlanta United ahead of their expansion season, where he experienced success in the North American soccer landscape. Overall, he played in 115 matches in three campaigns for United, while recording four goals and six assists and helping the team clinch the 2018 MLS Cup title. During his time with Atlanta United, the defender also won the 2019 U.S. Open Cup and the 2019 Campeones Cup titles and was selected for the 2019 MLS All-Star game.

Most recently, in January 2020 González Pirez was transferred to Club Tijuana in LigaMX. In his stint at the Mexican first division team, the defender made 14 appearances in all competitions and scored four goals.

The center back also has experience on the international stage, having represented the U-17, U-20 and U-22 Argentina youth national teams. In 2009, González Pirez made four appearances and scored two goals as Argentina’s U17 side qualified for the World Cup and finished runners up at the 2009 South American U-17 Championship. Subsequently, he was called up for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he started and played the full 90 minutes in Argentina’s four matches.

In 2011, he was part of the Argentina U-20 team that competed at the 2011 South American Youth Championship and the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Overall, González Pirez made nine appearances for the U-20 national team. Later on that same year, he made four appearances for Argentina’s U-22 national team at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico, where the team finished as runners-up.

Gonzalez Pirez is a Green Card holder and will not occupy an international roster slot.

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