Josef Martínez Signs One-Year Deal with Earthquakes
San Jose adds Martínez to Bruce Arena's club after the 2018 MLS MVP spent one season with CF Montréal.
The San Jose Earthquakes announced the signing of forward Josef Martínez on Monday to a one-year deal with a club option for the 2026 season.
Entering his ninth year in MLS, the 31-year-old Venezuelan won the 2018 MLS MVP award, the Golden Boot and that season’s MLS Cup title with Atlanta United FC.
At the beginning of his seven-year tenure with Atlanta, Martínez scored 77 goals between the 2017-2019 seasons, with his 31 in 2018 setting the MLS record for most goals in a season at the time (now No. 2). Martínez notched a record six hat tricks in 2018 and became the fastest player in MLS history to 100 goals scored (125 matches) in Oct. 2021.
Debuting as a teenager for Caracas FC in his home country, Martínez spent four seasons between Young Boys (2011-2014) and Thun (2013-14) of the Swiss Super League, collecting 11 goals in 55 appearances before leaving for Serie A in 2014.
Prior to joining MLS to play for Atlanta, Martínez’s time in Italy with Torino (2014-2017) featured 12 Europa League match appearances and 58 league games.
Following his departure from the Georgia club, the forward started 20 games for Inter Miami CF in 2023, scoring in the 2023 Leagues Cup semifinal as the club eventually won the trophy.
Martínez’s signing with San Jose comes after his lone season with CF Montréal, when the veteran knocked in 11 goals, his first double-digit scoring year since 2021.
San Jose traded this past weekend for forward Cristian Arango, who scored 17 goals with 12 assists for Real Salt Lake and joins Martínez at the top of the formation.
In Nov. 2024, the Earthquakes hired MLS All-Time coaching wins leader (250 wins) and five-time MLS Cup champion Bruce Arena as their head coach and sporting director, who following the departure of forward Jeremy Ebobisse to LAFC last month has now acquired two players at that same position.
San Jose opens the MLS regular season Feb. 22, hosting Real Salt Lake at PayPal Park.