COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew have signed free agent forward Josef Martínez, who possesses nine seasons of MLS experience, an extensive resume of championships and 130 career MLS goals, the sixth-most in league history. Martínez’s contract is guaranteed through the 2026 season with a Club option through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season.
“Josef brings a level of experience, proven production and competitive mentality that can make a real difference for our group,” said Crew General Manager Issa Tall. “He adds another dynamic element to our attack, while also bringing leadership and valuable experience to our roster, especially given his familiarity with our team’s style of play and the league.”
Across his nine MLS seasons, Martínez has recorded 214 appearances (165 starts), 130 goals and 22 assists and seven hat tricks, the most in league annals. A three-time MLS Best XI selection (2017, 2018 and 2019) and two-time MLS All-Star (2018 and 2019), he has helped teams claim the MLS Cup (Atlanta United FC, 2018), Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (Atlanta United FC, 2019), Campeones Cup (Atlanta United FC, 2019) and Leagues Cup (Inter Miami CF, 2023). Martínez also won the Landon Donovan MLS MVP, MLS Cup MVP and MLS Golden Boot in 2018 after scoring a league-leading 31 goals and MLS Goal of the Year in 2019 and 2022.
Before joining Atlanta in 2017, Martínez tallied 13 goals and six assists across 76 appearances across all competitions for Italian Serie A side Torino FC (2014-17). Notably, he featured in 13 UEFA Europa League matches for Torino. Martínez spent the previous three seasons with Swiss Super League clubs BSC Young Boys (2012-14) and FC Thun (2013-14). In his time with the two clubs, he tallied 13 goals and nine assists in 70 appearances. The forward made his professional debut for Venezuela’s Caracas FC on Aug. 21, 2010, before posting nine goals and five assists across 42 contests for Caracas, including five appearances in the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores.
Martínez – who made 158 appearances for Atlanta United FC across all competitions, recording 111 goals and 17 assists – joined The Five Stripes on loan in February 2017 for the club’s inaugural season before a permanent transfer in March 2017. The forward was named to the MLS Best XI in each of his first three seasons and earned two MLS All-Star selections in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, the league MVP led Atlanta to an MLS Cup trophy and earned MLS Cup MVP honors after scoring the game-winning goal. He was also part of Atlanta’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup championship teams in 2019. Martínez made.
Martínez signed for Inter Miami CF ahead of the 2023 season, when he tallied 12 goals and three assists in 40 appearances. The Valencia, Venezuela, native helped the Herons reach the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final by scoring twice during their tournament run. He also registered three goals in seven Leagues Cup appearances as Miami claimed its first championship. With Miami, Martínez became the fastest player in league history to reach 100 regular season goals following a brace against Atlanta United FC on May 6, 2023, accomplishing the feat in just 142 matches.
The 33-year-old accrued 11 goals and three assists across 23 regular season matches (13 starts) with CF Montreal in 2024. He scored two goals in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and one in Leagues Cup play, totaling 14 goals in 26 matches across all competitions that year.
The forward made 31 appearances for the San Jose Earthquakes in 2025, posting 14 goals and three assists.
With Club Tijuana in 2026, Martínez scored one goal in nine games.
At the international level, Martínez has earned 70 caps for Venezuela since making his senior debut on Aug. 7, 2011, recording 15 goals and three assists. The forward participated in three FIFA World Cup qualifying cycles and four editions of Copa América (2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021). Additionally, Martínez made six appearances for Venezuela’s Under-20 National Team, scoring two goals.
TRANSACTION: Columbus Crew sign free agent forward Josef Martínez, announced on Aug. 13, 2026. Martínez is guaranteed through the 2026 season with a Club option through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season.
Name: Josef Martínez
Position: Forward
Height: 5’8”
Born: May 19, 1993, in Valencia, Venezuela
Citizenship: Venezuela
Acquired: Acquired by Columbus Crew on Aug. 13, 2026
Previous Experience: Caracas FC (2010-12); BSC Young Boys (2012-14); FC Thun (2013-14); Torino FC (2014-17); Atlanta United FC (2017-22); Inter Miami CF (2023); CF Montreal (2024); San Jose Earthquakes (2025); Club Tijuana (2026)