Javier “Chicharito” Hernández becomes the first player in Atlético Dallas history.
Courtesy: Atlético Dallas
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández will extend his historic career by playing in North Texas.
Atlético Dallas announced Monday that it has reached a two‑year contract with the Mexican forward, with a club option for a third season, pending league and federation approval.
With two decades of experience across the world’s top leagues, Hernández said in a release that he is energized by the opportunity to help grow the sport in the region.
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“I believe Dallas deserves a club that reflects its passion for football, its diversity, and its future,” Hernández said. “I want to help create a winning culture, inspire young players across North Texas, and give our supporters a team they can believe in from the very beginning.”
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Atlético Dallas will debut in the 2027 USL Championship season, one tier below MLS, and will play its home matches at the Cotton Bowl.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Courtesy: Atlético Dallas
Hernández, the Mexican national team’s all‑time leading scorer with 52 goals, becomes Atlético Dallas’s first official signing.
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“From the very beginning, our dream wasn’t simply to launch another professional soccer club,” Matt Valentine, founder and chairman of Atlético Dallas, said in a release. “Our dream was to build a club that truly belongs to Dallas. Javier believed in that vision.”
Historic rise
Hernández rose from Club Guadalajara academy to become one of Mexico’s most recognizable soccer figures, breaking out with Chivas before making history as the first Mexican player to sign with Manchester United in the Premier League.
His instinctive movement inside the box and his physical tools made him a threat to any opposing defender.
After his Premier League rise, Hernández wore some of the sport’s most iconic shirts, including Real Madrid’s, with whom he played in the Champions League.
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Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham United, Sevilla and eventually MLS — where he became the face of the LA Galaxy — were his other stops before joining Atlético Dallas.
“His career speaks for itself, but it’s his leadership, humility, competitive spirit, and genuine love for the game that make him the perfect person to help write the first chapter in Atlético Dallas history,” Valentine said.
Peter Luccin, appointed in February as the club’s first head coach, said Hernández’s arrival marks a major step in establishing the organization’s credibility.
“Javier has competed against the very best players in the world and understands exactly what excellence requires,” Luccin said. “His experience, professionalism, and competitive mentality will elevate everyone around him. That’s the kind of foundation every successful club needs.”
Across 408 career matches, Hernández has scored 156 goals.
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Javier “Chicharito” Hernández becomes the first player signed to Atlético Dallas.
Courtesy: Atlético Dallas
For Brian Corcoran, Atlético Dallas’ sporting director, Hernández represents the type of player around whom championship organizations are built.
“His willingness to mentor, combined with the qualities he will bring on the field makes this a perfect first signing for our club,” Corcoran said.
Hernández’s transfer from Chivas to Manchester United in 2010 set a record at the time for Mexican soccer with an $8.5 million fee.
His largest transfer, according to Transfermarkt, came in 2017 when West Ham paid $20 million to Bayer Leverkusen to bring him back to the Premier League.
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He has been inactive throughout 2026, and financial details of his deal with Atlético Dallas were not disclosed.
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Hernández returned to Chivas in 2023, but his second stint with the Guadalajara club unfolded under the weight of injuries and uneven form, keeping him from regaining the rhythm that once defined his game.
Still, at 38, he believes he can continue delivering moments of quality on the field.
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“I didn’t come here simply to finish my career,” he said. “I came here to help build the future of football in Dallas.”