2023 MLS Cup champion Julian Gressel is officially leaving Columbus to join forward Lionel Messi and former Atlanta United coach Tata Martino down in Miami.

Inter Miami FC announced they've signed Gressel to a three-year contract with a club option for 2027. Last month, The Athletic reported that the MLS free agent was in the "final stages of talks" of a deal with Miami.

Gressel, who won his second MLS Cup with the Crew in 2023, became one of the most highly touted free agents on the market after Gressel's contract with the Crew ran out at the end of the season.

Coming to Columbus in a trade with the Vancouver Whitecaps before the 2023 deadline, Gressel lost his starting job with the Crew three games into the postseason, with the team opting for a younger Mo Farsi. His message to Crew fans on Instagram was that his tenure with the Crew was "short and sweet."

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former Columbus Crew forward Julian Gressel signs with Inter Miami FC