CF Montreal acquire veteran striker Josef Martinez

Field Level Media|published: Tue 6th February, 10:53 2024

Sep 30, 2023; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Josef Martinez (17) looks on before the game against New York City FC at DRV PNK Stadium. credits: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

CF Montreal announced the signing Tuesday of veteran Venezuelan striker Josef Martinez.

The former MLS MVP inked a one-year deal that includes an option for the 2025 season.

Martinez, 30, registered seven goals and one assist in 27 matches (20 starts) for Inter Miami CF in 2023.

He played his first six MLS seasons with Atlanta United FC, where he won the MLS Cup (2018), U.S. Open Cup (2019) and Campeones Cup (2019). He was the league's MVP and MLS Cup MVP in 2018, won the Golden Boot in 2018 (31 goals) and made the MLS All-Star team in 2018 and 2019

Martinez has scored 105 goals and added 17 assists in 161 career MLS matches (131 starts) since 2017. He is one of 13 players in MLS history to score 100 goals and became the fastest to reach the century mark (125 games).

Before arriving in North America, Martinez played for Torino in Italy's Serie A from 2014-17, scoring seven goals. He also spent time in Switzerland with BSC Young Boys and FC Thun after making his professional debut in 2010 with Venezuela's Caracas FC.

At the national team level, Martinez has played 66 games for Venezuela since 2011, scoring 14 goals and taking part in three World Cup qualifying rounds and four editions of Copa America (2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021)

Montreal opens the regular season Feb. 24 at Orlando City SC.

—Field Level Media