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San Jose Earthquakes star Cristian Espinoza is out of contract this winter and will enter free agency after his 2026 contract option wasn’t picked up before its deadline expired, sources briefed on the situation told The Athletic.
Espinoza prefers to stay in MLS, and San Jose has offered him a new contract, but he is also open to options abroad, sources added. He will be one of the premier free agents on the market in MLS this winter, if not the top option.
Espinoza, 30, is the club’s all-time assists leader with 83. He joined San Jose in 2019 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. He has had at least eight assists in every season (including the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign) and has missed only nine of a possible 227 regular season games.
Despite his individual excellence, San Jose only made round one of the playoffs one time in his seven seasons with the club. The Quakes never hosted a playoff game nor advanced.
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. He spent time on loan with Alavés, Valladolid and Boca Juniors before signing with the Quakes.
Nov 12, 2025
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