SAN JOSE, Calif. — Cristian Espinoza, one of the most reliable creators in MLS over the last decade, is officially headed to free agency this winter after the San Jose Earthquakes allowed his 2026 contract option to lapse, multiple league sources told The Athletic.
San Jose has made an effort to keep him, and Espinoza is said to be open to returning. But the 30-year-old winger is also exploring moves outside MLS, and he’s expected to instantly become one of the top attacking options available on the market.
Since arriving in 2019, Espinoza has been the engine of the Quakes attack. He leaves the club as its all-time assists leader (83) and one of the most durable players in the league — he’s missed only nine regular-season matches out of 227 possible. This past season he put up four goals and 12 assists, continuing a streak of at least eight assists in every year he’s been in MLS, even during the shortened 2020 campaign. But despite his individual consistency, the team around him never quite broke through. San Jose reached the postseason only once during his seven seasons and never advanced past the opening round or hosted a playoff match.
Espinoza occupied a Designated Player slot on his previous deal, and given his production and reliability, he’s expected to draw interest from several MLS clubs.
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