Inter Miami CF has announced the signing of Argentine midfielder David Ayala from the Portland Timbers. Ayala joins Inter Miami under Major League Soccer's (MLS) U22 Initiative, enhancing the Club’s midfield capabilities. His contract extends through the conclusion of the 2026 MLS season.
Ayala, 23, previously played for the Portland Timbers from 2022 to 2025. Prior to his time in MLS, he featured for Club Estudiantes de La Plata in Argentina’s Primera División from 2019 to 2022.
Born in Berazategui, Argentina, Ayala developed within the Estudiantes youth system. He made his professional debut in December 2019 at 17 years old, becoming the third-youngest player to debut for the club. During his tenure in Argentina’s top flight, Ayala recorded 33 appearances.
During his time with Portland, Ayala became a contributor in midfield. He made 22 appearances across league and cup competitions in his initial season. By the end of the 2025 campaign, Ayala had accumulated 98 appearances, four goals, and two assists across all competitions for the Timbers.
Ayala will join several familiar individuals at Inter Miami CF. During the 2020 season at Estudiantes, he played with recently signed defender Facundo Mura on three occasions and once with Head Coach Javier Mascherano during Mascherano’s final professional season.
On the international stage, Ayala has represented Argentina across multiple youth national team categories. In 2019, he was part of the squad that won the South American U-17 Championship and was subsequently selected for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.