Sources say all parties are exchanging paperwork on the proposed $15 million transfer and the deal is expected to be completed soon. Bertram would be one of the top 10 most expensive transfers in MLS history.
Before Miami moved forward on a deal for Bertram, the club cycled through potential targets to see what deals might be possible. As is typical for Miami, the club went much further in its search.
Miami made a bold bid of nearly $13 million for LAFC star Dennis Bonga, sources with knowledge of the situation said. Athletic. LAFC rejected the offer outright and were unwilling to move to Bouanga.
Sources say Bouanga would like a new contract with LAFC. He is under contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028, and LAFC say the player is staying for the long term.
Bouanga is one of the best players in MLS, having scored at least 20 regular season goals in each of the last three seasons.
The 31-year-old joins LAFC in the summer of 2022. He quickly scored the goal that clinched the club’s Supporters’ Shield that season and then played every minute of the club’s playoff run, which ended with Bouanga and his teammates winning the MLS Cup.
According to the MLS Players Association, the Gabon international winger was the league’s 19th-highest-paid player with a guaranteed compensation of $3.7 million in 2025. Bouanga finished third in MLS MVP voting last year, won the 2023 MLS Golden Boot (while also finishing second in MVP voting) and has been named to the MLS Best XI in each of the last three seasons.
Meanwhile, 27-year-old Bertram has been one of Liga MX’s better forwards for several years, initially arriving in Mexico from Argentina in 2019 with San Luis before joining Monterrey in 2022. He has 68 goals and 15 assists for Los Rayados since joining the club.
He had 27 goals in all competitions in 2025, including three goals at the FIFA Club World Cup. He has continued his scoring ways with two goals in table-topping Monterrey’s first three matches of the Clausura 2026.
It’s been a busy winter for Miami, as the club reloads from the Lionel Messi 1.0 era to 2.0. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba retired, leaving two DP spots open. Rodrigo De Paul’s loan was converted to a permanent deal for a fee of approximately $17 million – currently the third-highest fee in MLS history – and Bertram will soon be linked with the third DP spot.
Miami has already signed reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and Canadian international Dayne St. Clair this winter. It also sealed a deal to keep on-loan winger Tadeo Allende on a permanent transfer from Celta Vigo – crucially doing so without Allende becoming a DP – signed Brazilian center back Mikel on loan from Palmeiras and acquired midfielder David Ayala in a trade with the Portland Timbers.
Earlier this winter, Miami signed former Tottenham left back Sergio Reguilon and Argentine right back Facundo Mura on free transfers.
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