H. López Muñoz to San Jose Earthquakes?

The San Jose Earthquakes have signed attacking midfielder Hernán López from Godoy Cruz in a club-record deal worth around $6 million, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.

CL Merlo first reported the agreement, which got done ahead of Tuesday night’s deadline. This deal doubles the club’s previous transfer record, which was a deal to sign Carlos Gruezo last winner for around $3 million.

López, 23, joins the club as a designated player. He has spent most of his career with Godoy Cruz after breaking through the River Plate academy. He had five goals and six assists in 28 appearances across all competitions last year.

The move could be a much-needed boost for San Jose, which is sitting bottom of the Western Conference. The club worked until the end of the window to add a DP No. 10 as they planned.

López projects to star in attack along with Cristian Espinoza, Amahl Pellegrino and Jeremy Ebobisse.

The San Jose Earthquakes have signed Argentine attacking midfielder Hernan Lopez to a designated player contract, sources confirmed to ESPN, paying a club record transfer fee of around $6 million, which could rise to $7m if certain incentives are met.

The contract runs through the end of the 2026 season with club options for both 2027 and 2028. The transfer fee is more than double the previous club record of $2.9m for Carlos Gruezo prior to last season.

The deal will be complete once Lopez's International Transfer Certificate has been obtained, but was done in time to beat the closing of the MLS primary transfer window on April 23.

Lopez is a great-nephew of the Argentine legend Diego Maradona.

Argentine journalist Cesar Luis Merlo was first to report the news of Lopez's signing.

The Quakes, with a league-worst mark of three points from nine league matches, need help all over the field, but signing an attacking midfielder was one of the team's primary needs. Lopez will now be expected to be the primary supplier to attackers Cristian Espinoza and Amahl Pellegrino, as well as forwards Preston Judd and Jeremy Ebobisse.

Lopez, 23, arrives in San Jose having spent parts of the previous two seasons with Godoy Cruz, where he scored seven goals in 51 league and cup appearances. He first broke in with Argentine giants River Plate in 2019, having risen through the club's academy ranks starting in 2014.

He was technically on loan with Godoy Cruz though Lopez's player rights were evenly split between River and Godoy Cruz.

The recent news of Hernán López Muñoz's arrival at the San Jose Earthquakes involving a considerable sum of $7 million not only illustrates the growing reach of South American soccer but also ignites debates about the true value of the player and the financial impact on the Argentine clubs involved.

MLS, long seen as a promising destination for South American players seeking new challenges and opportunities, continues to attract talents from around the world. The arrival of Hernán López Muñoz, an Argentine player with promising potential, at the San Jose Earthquakes represents another chapter in this ever-evolving story. The North American league has grown in reputation and competitiveness, and the player's decision to take this step can be seen as a bet on his own career and an opportunity to stand out in a new environment.

Every major transfer brings with it a series of questions. The $7 million price paid by the San Jose Earthquakes for Hernán López Muñoz's transfer raises the question of the player's true value. Will he meet expectations and justify this significant investment? The pressure on the player's shoulders is immense, and he will have to prove his worth on the field to earn trust.

Additionally, the transfer also has financial implications for the Argentine clubs involved. Both Godoy Cruz and River Plate will receive a portion of the transfer fee, $3.5 million each, due to the percentages of economic rights they hold over the player. For these clubs, this injection of capital may be welcome, especially at a time when many clubs are facing financial difficulties due to the pandemic and football-related restrictions.

The departure of a talent like Hernán López Muñoz also raises concerns about the sporting future of Argentine clubs. Will they be able to fill the void left by his departure? The ability to develop and retain local talents is crucial for the long-term sustainability of Argentine soccer, and the loss of talented players to foreign leagues can pose a challenge in this regard.

Hernán López Muñoz's transfer also highlights the growing financial disparity between South American clubs and their counterparts in the European and North American markets. While European clubs continue to spend exorbitant sums on transfers, South American clubs often find themselves forced to sell their most promising talents to survive financially. This raises questions about the sustainability of the current economic model of South American soccer and the need to find ways to level the financial playing field.

San José Earthqueakes anunció el fichaje de Hernán López Muñoz, adelantado aquí.
El club informó que su pase fue adquirido en u$s 6.000.000. Su contrato será hasta diciembre de 2026 con chances de prorrogar por 2 años.

Translated from Spanish:

San José Earthqueakes announced the signing of Hernán López Muñoz, advanced here.
The club reported that its pass was acquired for US$6,000,000. His contract will be until December 2026 with the possibility of extending it for 2 years.

De Buenos Aires a San José.

Hernán López is Black & Blue!

NEWS: Quakes74 acquire Argentine midfielder Hernán López as Designated Player for club-record transfer fee.

New playmaker in San Jose.

SJEarthquakes acquire Hernán López in club-record deal:

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing

The San Jose Earthquakes have acquired Argentine midfielder Hernán López as a Designated Player, the club announced Thursday.

The 23-year-old arrives from Argentine top-flight side Godoy Cruz. He is under contract through the 2026 MLS season with options for 2027-28.

To land López, San Jose reportedly spent a club-record $6 million transfer fee. Their previous club-record deal involved Ecuadorian international midfielder Carlos Gruezo for reportedly around $3 million.

"We’re excited to announce the signing of a top-level player like Hernán López and welcome him to San Jose," Earthquakes general manager Chris Leitch said in a release.

"To bring in a dynamic central playmaker of his caliber for what will be the prime of his career demonstrates that we are willing to invest at a higher level than ever before. He not only fits the mold for our long-term project but will make an immediate impact when he steps on the field."

López tallied 7g/6a in 51 all-competition appearances for Godoy Cruz, including two Copa Libertadores matches. The River Plate academy product also made four appearances for the storied club before a loan stint at Club Atlético Central Córdoba. He's the great-nephew of legendary Argentine star Diego Maradona.

López, who predominantly plays the No. 10 role, joins an attack led by striker Jeremy Ebobisse and wingers Cristian Espinoza and Amahl Pellegrino. The Earthquakes acquired Pellegrino in February from Norwegian top-flight side Bodø/Glimt, helping offset Cade Cowell's club-record move to Liga MX titans Chivas.

"Hernán is an extremely gifted player that we’ve been targeting, so we’re really looking forward to bringing him aboard and having him make a creative impact in our midfield," said Earthquakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez. "His technical skill, vision, and ability to both finish and create for others will add another dynamic to our attack.”

San Jose have stumbled early in 2024, sitting last in the Western Conference through Matchday 10 (1W-8L-0D record; 3 points).

Magic on the ball . Greatness in his blood .

Hernán López. Coming soon to a midfield near you.

A message to the Quakes74 fans from our record-signing, Hernán López

The San Jose Earthquakes have acquired midfielder Hernán López from Argentine Primera División side Godoy Cruz for a club-record transfer fee and signed him to a Designated Player contract through the 2026 season with club options for 2027 and 2028, pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

“We’re excited to announce the signing of a top-level player like Hernán López and welcome him to San Jose,” said Earthquakes general manager Chris Leitch. “To bring in a dynamic central playmaker of his caliber for what will be the prime of his career demonstrates that we are willing to invest at a higher level than ever before. He not only fits the mold for our long-term project but will make an immediate impact when he steps on the field.”

López, 23, spent the past five years competing in Argentina’s top tier, making 84 appearances across league play, domestic cups, and the prestigious Copa Libertadores for River Plate, Central Córdoba, and Godoy Cruz. The great-nephew of Argentine World Cup winner and FIFA co-Player of the 20th Century Diego Maradona, the left-footed López amassed 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions during this span to establish himself as one of the brightest young talents in South American soccer.

“Hernán is an extremely gifted player that we’ve been targeting, so we’re really looking forward to bringing him aboard and having him make a creative impact in our midfield,” said Earthquakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez. “His technical skill, vision, and ability to both finish and create for others will add another dynamic to our attack.”

A native of Villa del Parque, Argentina, López began his youth career with hometown club Pacífico Villa del Parque before moving on to Juventud de Devoto, Agronomía, Cultural de Tapiales, and Argentinos Juniors. In 2014, he subsequently joined the academy at River Plate, where he won the Generation Adidas Cup in consecutive seasons.

López made his much-anticipated first-team debut at 18 years old with River Plate in the last game of the 2019 season under reigning South American Manager of the Year Marcelo Gallardo. Playing against Club Atlético Tigre, he marked his initial professional outing with a goal.

After a second season with Los Millionarios, the precocious midfielder then spent the next three campaigns on loan, first with Central Córdoba (2021-22) and then with Godoy Cruz (2023), with the latter move becoming permanent in January. It was with Godoy Cruz where López has emerged as a premier No. 10 in the Primera División with seven goals and six assists in one-and-a-half seasons.

Hernán López

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5-6

Born: September 7, 2000, in Villa del Parque, Argentina

Age: 23

Preferred Foot: Left

Hometown: Villa del Parque, Argentina

Previous Club: Godoy Cruz (Argentina)

Roster Designation: Designated Player

Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – Earthquakes acquire M Hernán López from Argentina’s Godoy Cruz and sign him to a Designated Player contract through the 2026 MLS season with club options for 2027 and 2028, pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).