Inter Miami CF announced today that it has signed Venezuelan international striker and former Landon Donovan MLS MVP Josef Martínez. The one-time MVP, MLS Cup champion, MLS golden boot winner, U.S. Open Cup winner, and Campeones Cup champion will join Inter Miami after six seasons with Atlanta United.
“Josef is a champion and adding him to our group is exciting for us as we head into the 2023 season. He’s been one of the best players in the league since he first arrived and we believe he’ll make a difference here at Inter Miami,” said Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson. “We’re adding a proven goalscorer with a track record of success in MLS. We’re thrilled to have a player like Josef in our attack.”
“I’m excited for the opportunity to represent Inter Miami and give the best of myself. This is a club with high aspirations and that aims to be amongst the best in the league. I hope to help the team achieve its objectives and leave my mark at the club,” said Martínez.
Martínez will be introduced to fans this Saturday, Jan. 21 with a special halftime ceremony during Inter Miami’s international friendly against Brazilian side Vasco da Gama. To secure your chance to see the former MVP unveiled at DRV PNK Stadium, purchase tickets for the highly anticipated matchup HERE. The match will also offer fans their first opportunity of 2023 to see Inter Miami in action.
Martínez, 29, compiled an extensive list of accomplishments in his six seasons with Atlanta. Notably, he was named to the MLS Best XI each of his first three seasons in the league, an All-Star in 2018 and 2019, and was named Landon Donovan MLS MVP and led Atlanta to an MLS Cup title in 2018 as the MLS Cup MVP. He also helped guide the team to U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup titles in 2019, won MLS golden boot with 31 goals in 2018, won MLS Goal of the Year in 2019 and 2022, holds the league’s all-time hat trick record with six and single-season mark with three (2017 and 2018), and became the fastest player in MLS history to score 100 goals in all competitions, reaching the mark in just 125 games.
The Venezuelan striker joined Atlanta in 2017, quickly hitting the ground running with 19 goals in his first year. Martínez followed that up with a record-breaking campaign in 2018 in which he became the first MLS player to win All-Star, regular season and MLS Cup MVP honors in the same season. He also scored 31 goals in 2018 to win MLS’ Golden Boot, breaking the league’s regular season scoring record of 27, and then added four goals during the MLS Cup Playoffs to break the league’s combined scoring record with 35 goals in a single season and help Atlanta clinch the first MLS Cup title for the franchise. Martínez went on to score 103 goals and register 17 assists in 144 appearances in MLS, including both the regular season and playoffs.
Prior to joining Atlanta, Martínez spent three seasons with Italian Serie A club Torino FC. He made 76 appearances across all competitions for the team, registering 13 goals and six assists in the process. Notably, he featured in 13 UEFA Europa League matches for the team.
Martínez spent the previous three seasons in the Swiss Super League, featuring for BSC Young Boys and FC Thun. In his time with the two clubs, he tallied 13 goals and nine assists in 70 appearances.
The forward began his career in his native Venezuela with Caracas FC, where he came through the youth ranks and made his professional debut in 2010. Overall, he scored nine goals and registered five assists across 42 appearances for the team, including five appearances in the prestigious CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores.
On the international level, the Valencia, Venezuela native has represented La Vinotinto 60 times, netting 13 goals and notching three assists. He has featured for the team in three editions of the CONMEBOL Copa América, World Cup qualifiers, and international friendlies.
