San Jose Earthquakes outplay Racing to land Josef Martínez in shocking MLS power move | OneFootball

The San Jose Earthquakes made a major splash in the MLS market by signing Josef Martínez, the Venezuelan forward and one of the league’s most iconic names. At 31, Martínez joins as a free agent, securing a contract through 2025 with an option for 2026. And honestly, the buzz around this signing is completely justified. We’re talking about the seventh all-time top scorer in MLS history, boasting 116 goals in 184 regular-season matches.

A striker with pedigree

Martínez is, quite simply, one of the greatest the league has ever witnessed. An undisputed Atlanta United legend, where he was at his sparkling best from 2017 to 2022, the Venezuelan didn't just rack up individual accolades like the Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award and the Golden Boot; he was also the cornerstone of Atlanta's 2018 MLS Cup victory.

And he's still delivering: in 2024, Martínez scored 14 goals in 26 matches while playing for CF Montréal. Wherever this guy goes, he knows how to find the back of the net. Now, as a member of the San Jose Earthquakes, Martínez brings not only impressive numbers but also that presence that goes way beyond stats. He is used to winning and carrying the weight of expectation.

San Jose's rebuild

The San Jose Earthquakes finished dead last in the standings a year ago, the kind of miserable performance that screams for drastic change. So far, at least, new head coach Bruce Arena-who was hired in November-has overseen a wholesale rebuild. They've already inked seven players with MLS experience, and Martínez is obviously the crown jewel of this bunch. He's not the only high-profile attacking addition, either.

Earlier this offseason, the Quakes traded with Real Salt Lake to add another proven striker in Chicho Arango. With Martínez on board to complement Arango, San Jose seems to be building an attack that can balance power and precision. The loss of Jeremy Ebobisse to LAFC had left a gap in their frontline, which they have replaced with arguably two of the best strikers available in the market-a very bold and admirable move. It is clear that Arena is building a team ready to go from the opening whistle in 2025, with the attack the focal point of this new regime.

Martínez's on and off-field impact

Signing Martínez does much more than help the Earthquakes on the field. He is a globally-recognized name, and that increases the profile of the Earthquakes both domestically and internationally. It's no accident that he was on the radar of storied clubs like Racing in Argentina. His decision to stay in MLS illustrates an important trend: the league has cemented itself as an attractive option, even for players who could otherwise join South America's biggest teams. The game has changed, and MLS now competes head-to-head with the continent's top leagues.

On the pitch, Martínez offers much more than goals. It is his experience in high-intensity games, his leadership skills, and his winning mentality that San Jose need.