MONTREAL - CF Montréal has announced on Tuesday the signing of Venezuelan striker Josef Martínez. The MLS Cup winner and MLS Cup MVP in 2018 has signed a one-year deal, including an option for the 2025 season, using targeted allocation money (TAM).
The veteran from Valencia, Venezuela, played seven seasons in MLS, including six with Atlanta United FC, from 2017 to 2022. One of the most decorated players in league history, both collectively and individually, Martínez helped his team win the MLS Cup (2018), the U.S. Open Cup (2019) and the Campeones Cup (2019). He was also named MLS Most Valuable Player (2018) and on the MLS All-Star Team in 2018 and 2019, won the Golden Boot in 2018, and made the Team of the Year three times (2017, 2018, 2019) during his time in Georgia.
More recently, Martínez played the 2023 season with Inter Miami CF, where he helped his team win the inaugural edition of the Leagues Cup, scoring three goals and two assists. Martínez added two goals to his tally in the 2023 edition of the U.S. Open Cup, including one in the final, as finalists Miami fell to Houston Dynamo FC. In 27 regular-season games for Miami, he scored seven goals and one assist, for a total of 12 goals and three assists in all competitions.
The 30-year-old striker scored 105 goals and 17 assists in 161 games in MLS. He is one of 13 players to have scored at least 100 MLS goals and became the fastest player to achieve the feat in league history in just 125 games. Martínez is currently the ninth all-time goalscorer in MLS, having overtaken Canadian Dwayne De Rosario on July 5, 2023.
Before arriving in North America, Martínez played for Torino in Serie A from 2014 to 2017, scoring seven goals and four assists. He also spent time in Switzerland with BSC Young Boys and FC Thun after having made his professional debut in 2010 with Caracas FC, the most decorated team in Venezuelan soccer history.
At the national team level, Martínez has played 66 games for Venezuela since 2011, scoring 14 goals as well as taking part in three World Cup qualifying rounds and four editions of Copa América (2015, 2016, 2019, 2021)
Transaction: CF Montréal has acquired forward Josef Martínez. The Venezuelan signed a one-year contract, including an option for the 2025 season, using targeted allocation money (TAM).
JOSEF MARTÍNEZ
*Position: Forward
Height: 5'8
Weight: 163 lbs
Date of birth: May 19, 1993
Place of birth: Valencia, Venezuela
Citizenship: Venezuela
Last club: Inter Miami CF (MLS)
Acquisition date: February 6, 2024
