FC Cincinnati has secured midfielder José Martínez with a contract extending through the end of the 2026 Major League Soccer season, including an option for an additional year until June 2027, the club announced on October 9, 2026.
Read More
Martínez, 32, previously played for the Philadelphia Union in MLS for five seasons before transferring to Brazilian Série A team Corinthians in August 2024. During his time with Corinthians, he made 70 appearances across all competitions and scored two goals, earning two trophies, including starting both legs of the 2025 Copa do Brazil final against CR Vasco da Gama.
Chris Albright, the General Manager of FC Cincinnati, expressed enthusiasm about the signing, stating, “We’re excited to welcome José to Cincinnati. He’s an experienced player, a proven winner, and an elite competitor. He continues to attack his rehab with that same mentality, and we look forward to him joining the group.”
Prior to joining Corinthians, Martínez was a key player with the Philadelphia Union, making 108 MLS appearances with 100 starts. He contributed to the team’s playoff successes each season, winning the Supporters' Shield in 2020 and playing in MLS Cup 2022 as Eastern Conference Champions. Known by the nickname ‘El Brujo’ or ‘The Wizard,’ he was selected as an MLS All-Star in 2023, accumulating a total of 148 appearances and recording three goals and 12 assists in league play during his tenure with the Union.
Martínez has also been a consistent member of the Venezuelan national team, earning 41 caps and participating in two Copa América tournaments, where he started all four matches in the 2024 tournament held in the United States.
Martínez's professional career began at Deportivo JBL del Zulia from 2016 to 2017 before he moved to Zulia FC, where he scored two goals and four assists in 65 appearances in 2018 and 2019. Since his debut in 2016, he has accumulated nearly 350 professional appearances.