San Jose Earthquakes acquire Timo Werner from Red Bull Leipzig

Major move for MLS club brings in German international forward on long-term deal

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:55pm

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The San Jose Earthquakes have acquired forward Timo Werner from German club Red Bull Leipzig, signing him to a designated player contract through June 2028. The 29-year-old Werner, who has played for Stuttgart, Chelsea, and Tottenham, has also represented Germany in 57 international matches, scoring 24 goals.

Why it matters

This is a major acquisition for the San Jose Earthquakes, bringing in an experienced and accomplished player who has won trophies at the highest levels of European club soccer. Werner's addition could help elevate the Earthquakes and make them more competitive in MLS.

The details

The Earthquakes acquired Werner's discovery priority from Red Bull New York for $50,000 in general allocation money. The deal is pending Werner's visa and international transfer certificate. Earthquakes head coach Bruce Arena flew to Germany to meet with Werner and discuss the plan, impressing the player with the club's vision.

  • The Earthquakes signed Werner to a contract through June 2028.
  • The Earthquakes begin the 2026 MLS season on February 21 against Sporting Kansas City.

The players

Timo Werner

A 29-year-old German forward who has played for Stuttgart, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Red Bull Leipzig, and has 57 caps and 24 goals for the German national team.

Bruce Arena

The head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes, who has had significant success in MLS, including multiple MLS Cup championships.

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What they’re saying

“It's always a big decision to go to America, but everything is there to be successful. The stadium and the facilities are beautiful. Also, it really impressed me that an experienced manager like Bruce (Arena), who has had so much success in the league, flew over here to Germany to talk to me about the plan.”

— Timo Werner

“I think he'll be an excellent acquisition for our team. To have a player of Timo's caliber coming in is simply outstanding for the club and the community. I believe he'll offer us quality on the field, experience and leadership.”

— Bruce Arena, Head Coach, San Jose Earthquakes

What’s next

The Earthquakes will work to finalize Werner's visa and international transfer certificate so he can join the team ahead of the start of the 2026 MLS season on February 21.

The takeaway

This high-profile signing of a German international with extensive experience winning trophies in Europe demonstrates the Earthquakes' ambition to become a more competitive team in MLS and attract top global talent to the league.