San Jose Earthquakes star Cristian Espinoza is out of contract and will enter free agency after his 2026 contract option wasn’t picked up.

What happened?

Espinoza prefers to stay in MLS, and San Jose has offered him a new contract, but he is also open to options abroad. He will be one of the premier free agents on the market in MLS this winter.

Why it matters for San Jose Earthquakes

Espinoza, 30, is the club’s all-time assists leader with 83, and has quietly been one of the league’s most consistent and productive attackers. This year, Espinoza had four goals and 12 assists, helping keep San Jose in the playoff race until the final day of the season.

What comes next?

As of now, San Jose Earthquakes are 2nd in Major League Soccer, with 18 pts, 6W-0D-1L from 7 games, and recent form WWWLW. Their next fixture is vs Minnesota United FC at home on 2026-08-23. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | League standing | 2nd in Major League Soccer | | Points | 18 pts | | Record | 6W-0D-1L from 7 games | | Recent form | WWWLW | | Next fixture | vs Minnesota United FC at home on 2026-08-23 | Espinoza was a designated player on his last contract, and he should be highly sought after around the league this offseason. Prior to San Jose, Espinoza was with Villarreal, but never featured in a game for the club after joining from Argentina side Huracán.