Nashville SC enter win-now mode with Cristian Espinoza signing | OneFootball

By Charles Boehm

As Nashville SC officially welcomed their new Designated Player Cristian Espinoza to town over the weekend, Mike Jacobs was clearly delighted about capturing the most sought-after name in the 2026 MLS free-agent crop.

So much so that Nashville’s president of soccer operations and general manager happily broke one of his own rules at the Argentine creator’s Sunday introduction at the club’s training facility in Antioch, Tennessee.

“I always try to underpromise; it's hard to do that when you're announcing someone like Cristian,” Jacobs told reporters. “So we don't want to hide behind the fact of what we think [he] represents for our group.”

In securing the former San Jose Earthquake to a three-year deal with options that could keep him in gold until 2030, thus adding a powerful third cog to an attack spearheaded by leading scorer Sam Surridge and 2022 league MVP Hany Mukhtar, the Coyotes believe they’re primed to become a true MLS Cup threat.

“The window of opportunity is right now, for us to take advantage of what this group has done,” said Jacobs.

Proven commodity

One of the most reliable chance creators in the league since his arrival from LaLiga mainstays CF Villarreal in 2019, Espinoza ranks fourth in regular-season goal contributions (119; 36g/83a in 218 league games) during that time, earning two MLS All-Star nods.

Beyond the numbers, NSH liked his selflessness and humility, his willingness to work hard defensively and familiarity with the North American environment. And at age 30, he – like his new team – is keenly eager to win things, and quickly.

“Cristian's really going to complement the really talented group that we have here,” said head coach BJ Callaghan, who spoke of a collective desire “to show up as our best version of ourselves in the most important times” in 2026.

“He's already been an MLS All-Star, he's already been to the playoffs, which is great, and some of these things are individual accolades. But I think all of us, in our careers, get to a point where you're hungry for the ultimate trophy, and he is that.”