Josef Martínez: MLS Champion set for Liga MX move | OneFootball

In the last week, rumours began to ramp up as it appears that Venezuelan international Josef Martínez has agreed to switch from the MLS to the Liga MX.

Martínez, 32, has spent the last eight years playing in the MLS with the likes of Atlanta United, Inter Miami, CF Montréal and most recently with the San Jose Earthquakes. In late November, Martínez was among seven players released by the Quakes, which freed up over 33% of the team’s salary ($5.7M). The cut was somewhat surprising, given that Martínez was the team’s top scorer with 14 goals. He will be hoping that this move South of the border will help recapture his Georgia-era form, where he scored an incredible 93 goals in 131 games.

Reports from TUDN indicate that negotiations are at an ‘advanced’ stage, with a medical being arranged for the striker to join Los Xolos. Details around a possible deal structure remain a mystery, but the Venezuelan will be hoping that this move south of the border will help recapture his Atlanta-era form, where he scored an incredible 93 goals in 131 games.

If confirmed, Martínez would be joining one of the league’s most exciting sides. During the Apertura, Tijuana reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out by eventual runners-up Tigres.

On their way to the final eight, Los Xolos managed to compete with the biggest teams in the league, but lacked attacking consistency to climb higher in the standings. Lacking a deadly goalscorer, the goals were shared across the team as Frank Boya and Kevin Castenenda shared the team’s golden boot, with six goals each across the 17 league matches.

Martínez would also team up with promising attacking midfielder Gilberto Mora, a 17-year-old wonderkid, who has caught the eye of some of the biggest teams in the world.