Former Chelsea and Germany forward Timo Werner has completed a move to Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes from RB Leipzig, the German club announced on Thursday.
Werner agreed to terminate his contract with Leipzig six months early to facilitate the transfer. The 29-year-old has signed a deal with the MLS club that will run until June 2028.
RB Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer described Werner as a key figure in the club’s history, wishing him success in the United States both professionally and personally.
San Jose Earthquakes head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena welcomed the signing, saying Werner’s arrival would bring quality, leadership, and valuable experience to the team. Werner becomes the second high-profile German international to join MLS recently, following Thomas Müller’s move to Vancouver Whitecaps last August.
Werner rose to prominence during the 2019–20 season with RB Leipzig, scoring 28 Bundesliga goals before earning a transfer to Chelsea. Although he won the UEFA Champions League with the English club in 2021, his time at Stamford Bridge was marked by inconsistent performances and criticism over missed chances.
He returned to Leipzig in 2022 and later spent a season-and-a-half on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, but struggled to rediscover his best form. This season, he made only three Bundesliga appearances for Leipzig.
Reflecting on his move, Werner said the past few months had been challenging but educational, adding that he was ready for a fresh start. He will continue training in Leipzig before relocating to the United States in mid-February ahead of the new MLS season.
Werner leaves Leipzig as the club’s all-time leading scorer, with 113 goals in 216 appearances across all competitions. At international level, he has earned 57 caps for Germany, scoring 24 goals, though he has not featured for the national team since June 2023.
