Timo Werner in San Jose: The Contract, the Context, and Why This Transfer Changes the Direction of the Earthquakes

The San Jose Earthquakes have officially announced the arrival of one of the most recognizable German forwards of his generation. Timo Werner, the 29-year-old German international, has joined from RB Leipzig and signed a contract that runs until June 2028. He will take up a Designated Player spot, immediately making him one of the most significant projects in the club’s history.

According to the club’s statement, Werner’s arrival also required technical maneuvering within the MLS system. San Jose had to purchase his Discovery Priority from New York Red Bulls for $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) for 2026. This further underlines how planned and long-term this transfer truly was.

Werner brings 449 professional appearances, 153 goals, and 86 assists. He debuted with VfB Stuttgart before becoming a Bundesliga star at RB Leipzig. After that came Chelsea, where he won the Champions League and Club World Cup in 2021, followed by a spell at Tottenham.

On the international stage, Werner has earned 57 caps for Germany and scored 24 goals. He featured at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020, placing him among the most experienced players ever to join San Jose.

The contract until 2028 shows the Earthquakes don’t see Werner as a short-term fix. He isn’t here to wind down his career—he’s here to lead a new chapter under Bruce Arena’s project of structure, discipline, and identity.

The winter window context makes this even clearer. With Josef Martínez and Cristian Espinoza gone and Cristian Arango likely leaving, San Jose lost its attacking core. Werner arrives not just as a replacement, but as the axis around which the new offense will be built.

Arena personally traveled to Germany to speak with Werner—an unusual but powerful signal of ambition. In MLS terms, this isn’t a marketing signing. It’s a football decision.

Werner made it clear: he’s here to win trophies. For a club that hasn’t been a true contender in years, that sets a new standard.

San Jose has history, but not continuity. Timo Werner doesn’t guarantee success—but he defines the direction. The Earthquakes are building around football again.