Inter Miami complete signing of defender Christopher McVey

Inter Miami have announced the signing of defender Christopher McVey from Swedish top-flight side IF Elfsborg.

The 24-year-old - who can play both right-back and center-back - has signed with the Herons through 2024 with a club option for an extra year. Because he holds an American passport, McVey won't take up an international spot on Inter Miami's roster.

“Christopher is a promising addition at a position of need for us and we’re excited to have him join Inter Miami," the club's chief soccer officer and general manager Chris Henderson said in a press release.

"He’s a versatile defender with good size who can fill in at a number of positions effectively. He also holds a U.S. passport, so he won’t occupy an international roster slot, which will allow us to have flexibility as we continue to build a competitive roster for the 2022 MLS season."

McVey has spent his entire career to this point in Sweden, playing for Dalkurd FF as well as Elfsborg, making 58 senior appearances in total, including five in this season's UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.

He's uncapped for Sweden at senior level, but did play and score once for the Under-18 side against Austria back in 2014.

McVey will offer a strong and versatile presence in Phil Neville's defense. A much-needed one, too, after Inter Miami recently allowed center-backs Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and Christian Makoun to depart for River Plate and Charlotte FC respectively. Ryan Shawcross also announced his retirement from playing.

Lewis Morgan, Rodolfo Pizarro, Julian Carranza, and Kelvin Leerdam have also been among the high-profile departures from DRV PNK Stadium this offseason as Neville completely overhauls his roster ahead of the 2022 MLS season.