Ex-MLS MVP Josef Martínez Joins San Jose Earthquakes on a 1-Year Deal

Josef Martinez during a Atlanta United v Toronto match in 2018
Josef Martinez during a Atlanta United v Toronto match in 2018. Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISI/REX/Shutterstock (9780552c)

Veteran striker Josef Martínez, who won the MLS MVP honors in 2018, has agreed to a one-year deal with San Jose Earthquakes. According to Quakes’ announcement, the agreement also contains a club option for the 2026 season.

Martínez joins the Earthquakes after spending the 2024 campaign with CF Montreal, where he scored 13 goals and added three in 24 matches.

“I’m happy to be here, to be part of this group and the San Jose Earthquakes,” Martinez said in a statement. “I’m very excited for the new year and hope we can make history here.”

Josef Martínez arrived in the MLS in 2017 when he joined Atlanta United and quickly took the league by storm. He broke the single-season goalscoring record in 2018 with 31 goals en route to MLS MVP honors while also helping Atlanta win the MLS Cup.

Martínez followed that up with another stellar season in 2019, in which he scored 27 goals and was named to MLS Best XI for the third straight season. However, an ACL tear in the first game of 2020 put an end to this impressive run.

The injury caused Martínez to miss the rest of 2020, and he never reached the same heights upon returning to action. He left Atlanta after the 2022 season to join Inter Miami, where he lasted one season before signing with Montreal.

“Josef Martinez is an accomplished goalscorer in our league and is clearly an excellent addition to our team,” San Jose’s sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena said in a statement. “We are looking forward to his contributions to our attack.”

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