MLS Transfer Roundup: Bruce Arena's San Jose Earthquakes are all in now | OneFootball

Even without any last-minute deadline moves, you'd have no choice but to label Bruce Arena's San Jose Earthquakes as one of the most aggressive teams during the MLS primary transfer window.

Arena was already the league's all-time winningest coach when took the San Jose job over the winter, and at 73 years old, it went without saying that his latest project would not be a long-term build. That was re-emphasized when the Quakes made offseason moves for strikers Cristian Arango and Josef Martinez, as well as several of Arena's former New England Revolution regulars: midfielders Mark-Anthony Kaye and Ian Harkes, and defender Dave Romney among them.

Now Arena's Quakes are doubling down on that urgency, according to GiveMeSport's Tom Bogert, with moves for two more players who previously played for the Revs: wingback DeJuan Jones (now of Columbus) and midfielder Noel Buck.

Jones is far more established at MLS level, while Buck -- only 20 -- has considerably more upside. Adding both only further cements the Quakes as MLS' most urgent transfer market actor in the 2025 primary window, even if they aren't the biggest spending.

That doesn't necessarily mean they're taking the wisest approach. Arena's charges only have 10 points so far from nine matches, despite playing six of those nine fixtures at home. Four of San Jose's top five minutes earners are age 30 or over, as well as six of their most-played starting XI.

It's probably going to take yet another investment in the squad over the summer to turn San Jose into even a fringe MLS Cup contender, and that's a best-case scenario. And in a year or two, the result could be a core that is too old and in need of another overhaul.

San Diego acquiring USYNT defender from San Jose

Real Salt Lake v San Jose Earthquakes | John Todd/ISI Photos/GettyImages

Also according to Bogert, San Diego FC is acquiring youth international defender Oscar Verhoeven from the Quakes.

While the 18-year-old Verhoeven may prove useful for San Diego immediately -- he does have nine career MLS appearances already -- the more important context is what it reflects about Arena and the Quakes in the moment.

There are only two reasons to part with a player like Verhoeven at his current age, profile and meager salary cost: Either there was some personal reason the player wanted out, or the team needed to clear roster space to make other moves with a view on immediate results.

The latter is far more likely given the context of other San Jose moves and speaks to what the Quakes are potentially giving up down the line in exchange for their win-now strategy.