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Jeff Carlisle
Vancouver Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster confirmed that defender Tristan Blackmon completed his medical examination on Thursday and will be joining the team for their preseason training camp in Marbella, Spain.
This announcement comes just a day after ESPN reported that Blackmon, the current MLS Defender of the Year, missed a scheduled physical appointment on Wednesday.
The situation arose after Vancouver turned down a $3 million transfer offer from Inter Miami CF a little over a week ago. Schuster dismissed rumors of a nearly finalized deal and stated the club is instead focused on negotiating a new contract for Blackmon.
“I’m puzzled by all the attention surrounding [Blackmon],” Schuster told reporters on Thursday. “He underwent his medical exams yesterday and today. [Blackmon] has been here and finished his medicals. We are flying to Spain tomorrow. That’s all I can comment on it.”
In an interview with ESPN, Schuster mentioned he was unaware of the specific medical evaluation schedule and could not confirm if Blackmon had truly skipped his physical. When asked about any potential repercussions for Blackmon regarding the missed appointment, Schuster said, “I can’t confirm anything about yesterday because honestly, it’s common for players to be late or miss something during the season, and it’s not always reported.”
With regards to Blackmon’s new contract, a source familiar with the discussions indicated that talks would proceed, although Schuster refrained from divulging specific details.
“We won’t disclose details of our negotiations or our standing with any players,” he reiterated. “We haven’t shared such information regarding any player, and there are several others we are in discussions with. What I can confirm is that he is here and completing his medical.”
Schuster noted that Miami’s interest in Blackmon is simply part of standard operations during this time of year, and he is not concerned with any potential tampering issues.
“I’ve actually had two discussions with Miami yesterday… and there’s nothing between the two clubs,” he explained. “They respect our position, which is fair. I want to clarify the market, as this is quite usual.
“We’re discussing one player because of the club’s interest, and I’m being transparent about it. We’ve had inquiries regarding six players, and several others are here preparing for the season.”
Blackmon was integral to the Vancouver defense last season, aiding the Whitecaps in reaching the finals of both the Concacaf Champions League and MLS Cup. According to the MLS Players Association, Blackmon earned $800,000 in guaranteed salary last season, placing him 37th among MLS center-backs.
Since joining the Whitecaps in 2022 after a four-season tenure with LAFC, Blackmon’s career has flourished. He earned the Defender of the Year honor in 2025, attained MLS All-Star status, and received his first two caps with the U.S. men’s national team last September.