Timo Werner Joins the Growing Trend of European Stars Choosing MLS

After conquering Europe, Timo Werner is set to continue his career in Major League Soccer, a move that reflects a trend becoming increasingly prominent in global football. In this context, San Jose Earthquakes emerges as the next chapter for the German forward.

MLS has significantly strengthened its sporting structure in recent years, evolving into a destination capable of attracting players with experience in top domestic leagues and continental competitions. Werner’s arrival fits squarely into that evolution, as the league now offers ambitious projects and growing international visibility.

For many players who have competed at the highest level in Europe, the next challenge lies in assuming a leading role in a new environment. MLS provides the opportunity to spearhead sporting projects, bring elite-level experience, and raise a club’s competitive standards—without necessarily stepping away from high-performance football.

In that sense, this “different kind of glory” is no longer measured solely by trophies, but by sporting impact and long-term legacy within a league on the rise. Werner’s decision aligns with that type of challenge.

The German striker’s move follows a path MLS has been shaping for more than a decade. Players with European pedigree and elite-club experience have increasingly chosen to continue their careers in the United States while still in competitive phases of their playing lives.

Figures such as Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, David Villa, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Vela, and Kaká helped set a precedent that is now clearer than ever.

Werner now joins that lineage. His arrival at San Jose Earthquakes reinforces the idea that MLS is no longer a secondary option, but a central part of the career plans for established players seeking relevance, responsibility, and impact within a competitive and expanding league.