Former Chelsea striker arrives as designated player to the MLS side
San Jose Earthquakes have completed the signing of German international Timo Werner, landing one of the most recognisable European forwards to ever join the MLS in a deal that underlines the league’s growing pulling power.
Werner arrives in California as a designated player after a turbulent few seasons in Europe, but his pedigree remains unquestionable.
The 29-year-old has earned 57 caps for Germany, won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and was once regarded as one of the most devastating transition attackers in world football.
The Earthquakes moved decisively to secure Werner’s signature, viewing him as a marquee arrival capable of transforming both their attack and their global profile.
While his recent club form has been inconsistent, San Jose believe MLS provides the ideal environment for Werner to rediscover his confidence and attacking edge.
Werner first rose to prominence at RB Leipzig, where his blistering pace and direct style made him one of the Bundesliga’s most feared forwards.
That form earned him a €53m move to Chelsea in 2020, where he played a key role in the club’s Champions League triumph despite often being criticised for his finishing.
Why Werner still represents a major MLS statement signing
After two mixed seasons in England, Werner returned to Leipzig in a €20m deal, but struggled to replicate the form that had first made his name. Subsequent loan spells at Tottenham failed to reignite his career, with injuries and tactical fit limiting his impact.
Even so, his move to MLS is being viewed internally as a statement signing rather than a gamble. Werner brings elite-level experience, relentless work rate and an ability to stretch defences vertically – attributes that can be devastating in MLS if deployed correctly.
For San Jose, the signing is also about ambition. The club have been eager to position themselves alongside the league’s most progressive franchises, and Werner’s arrival signals an intent to compete not just domestically, but for global attention in an increasingly crowded MLS marketplace.
From a league-wide perspective, Werner’s switch further reinforces MLS as a credible destination for established European internationals, not merely a retirement league. At 29, he still has years ahead of him and arrives with the motivation to prove that his best football is not behind him.
If San Jose can build a system that plays to Werner’s strengths – early service, space to attack, and freedom to press aggressively – his pace and movement could quickly make him one of the league’s most effective forwards.
For the Earthquakes ahead of the 2026 MLS season, this is a signing that carries both sporting and symbolic weight.