Inter Miami’s pursuit of Blackmon comes to a halt as he agrees to a new contract with Vancouver, according to sources.
The Vancouver Whitecaps have extended the contract of reigning MLS Defender of the Year Tristan Blackmon through the 2029-30 season, as reported by sources to ESPN.
This agreement concludes a protracted negotiation process during which Inter Miami expressed interest in the United States international, leading Vancouver to ultimately decline a cash transfer proposal of $3 million. Subsequently, Blackmon did not attend a scheduled medical examination to commence training camp, according to sources.
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Blackmon completed the medical the following day and continued to participate in training with the Whitecaps throughout the preseason.
He played the full 90 minutes in each of Vancouver’s initial two competitive matches this season, which included a 0-0 draw against Costa Rican team Cartaginés in the Concacaf Champions Cup and a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in the MLS season opener last weekend.
Sources indicated that Blackmon, who had two years remaining on his previous contract, ultimately signed a new deal that includes a significant pay increase, though not as high as what Miami had proposed.
For Vancouver, this agreement enables the club to retain a player who has been a key figure in the Caps’ defense since his acquisition in 2022 after a four-year tenure with LAFC.
In addition to being named Defender of the Year in 2025, Blackmon was selected as an MLS All-Star and earned his first two caps with the U.S. men’s national team last September.
With the contract finalized, Blackmon can concentrate on Vancouver while also striving to secure a spot on the U.S. World Cup roster, where he is competing with Augsburg’s Noahkai Banks and Celtic’s Auston Trusty for what is expected to be the fifth and final center-back position.
Blackmon will gain a clearer understanding of his prospects when U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino announces his roster for the upcoming FIFA international window in March, which will feature matches against Belgium and Portugal.
Blackmon played a pivotal role in helping the Whitecaps reach the finals of both the Concacaf Champions League and MLS Cup, although Vancouver was unable to secure victory in either match.
According to data from the MLS Players Association, Blackmon earned $800,000 in guaranteed compensation last season, ranking 37th among MLS center backs.
