*This content was translated by AI.
Timo Werner (30) advanced to the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) when Son Heung-min (33, LA FC) was a teammate of Tottenham.
San Jose Earthquakes officially announced on the 30th (Korea Standard Time) that it has "fully recruited Werner from Leipzig." The number is 11.
Werner signed with Sennaj until 2028, saying Son Heung-min was not subject to the salary cap (total annual salary) rule as he did when he moved to LA FC.
There was no transfer fee, but it was reported that San Jose gave $50,000 (about 70 million won) to Red Bull New York, which had the right to negotiate first when Werner went to MLS.
Werner appears to have decided to move due to limited playing time this season. He once played as a key striker for the German national team, Chelsea, and Leipzig, but his heyday passed early. Moreover, I had my worst time in Leipzig this season. He only played 13 minutes in three league games. As he was classified outside of his power, let alone competing for the starting lineup, he eventually broke up with his family.
Werner was called the "German Bomber" in the past for his fast feet, excellent penetration ability and determination. As the slump continued, he left for Tottenham on loan in the 2023-2024 season and tried to turn it around, but with little success.
At the time, coach Enze Postecoglou said, "With an 18-year-old player on the roster, Werner showed an unacceptable performance," adding, "I told Werner, 'You're a veteran and you're a German national team player.' We had to show our best performance on the field at this moment in time," he also criticized publicly.
However, Son Heung-min, the Tottenham captain at the time, used to cheer Werner up. Son Heung-min said, "When Werner first came to Tottenham, he seemed to have lost a little bit of confidence. But as I've always said, Werner is a former top scorer in the Bundesliga and I expect him to score more points and help for the team."
In April 2024, when Werner's loan was ending, he publicly said, "I want to continue playing together," drawing attention. Son Heung-min said, "Werner's role in the way our wingers approach the game is very big and important," adding, "They are playing great, understanding each other."
San Jose, which Werner will join, is a member of the MLS Western Conference. MLS teams have recently joined global stars such as Son Heung-min and Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) to boost their power. For Werner, the MLS stage is expected to be a turning point.
Son Heung-min and Werner are expected to face each other for the first time on April 20 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, LA FC's home stadium.
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*This content was translated by AI.
