The New York Red Bulls have acquired Honduran international midfielder David Ruiz on loan from Inter Miami CF through the end of the 2026 MLS season.
The deal includes an option to buy at the conclusion of the loan period, giving the Red Bulls a potential long-term pathway to securing the 22-year-old permanently.
As part of the agreement, New York will send $75,000 in 2027 General Allocation Money to Inter Miami CF in exchange for the player’s temporary services.
Ruiz is a Miami, Florida native who joined the Inter Miami CF Academy in 2021 before progressing through the club’s youth ranks into senior football.
He made 22 appearances for Inter Miami II in USL League One and MLS NEXT Pro, recording two assists before earning a Homegrown Player signing in 2023.
Ruiz went on to make 82 career appearances across all competitions for Inter Miami’s first team, contributing four goals and four assists during that time.
He was part of three title-winning squads at Inter Miami, winning the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, and the 2025 MLS Cup.
Ruiz also made history as Inter Miami’s first Academy product to score for the first team, netting in a 2-1 home win against the New England Revolution on May 13, 2023.
His opportunities became limited more recently due to injury, including a procedure in September 2025, restricting him to just four league matches last season and nine appearances in 2026.
Red Bulls head of sport Julian de Guzman expressed strong confidence in the new signing, welcoming him to the club ahead of the new chapter.
“We are excited to welcome David to Red Bull New York and we look forward to helping him to take the next step in his career,” de Guzman said.
“David is a talented midfielder, who brings a combination of technical quality and competitiveness, and has already gained valuable MLS experience, and we believe his profile fits very well with the way we want to play.”
Head coach Michael Bradley also backed the acquisition, highlighting the versatility and impact Ruiz can bring to the squad going forward.
“David is a player who can impact the game in a lot of different ways,” Bradley said. “He has the ability to play forward, cover ground, compete, and make things happen with the ball.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to work with him, and we believe he can be an important addition to the group,” Bradley added.
On the international stage, Ruiz has earned 10 caps for the Honduras men’s national team, scoring three goals across those appearances.
He made his international debut on September 12, 2023, in a 4-0 win over Grenada, with his most recent cap coming on June 6 against Argentina, where he played 28 minutes.
Around the same time as the Ruiz deal was completed, the Red Bulls also loaned forward Roland Mitchell to Danish Superliga side Viborg FF.
