Atlanta – Atlanta United announced today that they have released Josef Martinez. The club will use a one-time off-season buyout on the player’s budget fee and Martínez will not occupy a specific player’s place on the squad list. In a similar move, Martínez opted to join Inter Miami CF, who would keep a portion of Martínez’s contract secured in the club’s 2023 salary budget.
“Joseph played a pivotal role in the history of Atlanta United, scoring memorable goals and lifting numerous trophies for moments that will live forever with our fans,” said Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra. “He has been a founding part and has been responsible for helping build our brand into what it is today. We cannot thank him enough for his contributions to the club and community over the past six years. He will always be a part of Atlanta United and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.” “.
Martínez originally joined the club when he signed on loan as a designated player from Torino on 2 February 2017, quickly becoming a permanent transfer on 21 March 2017. After scoring 19 goals in 20 appearances during his first season with Atlanta United in 2017 Martínez followed that up with a campaign He broke records in 2018 in which he became the first MLS player to win the MLS All-Star, Regular Season and MLS Cup titles in the same season. The Venezuelan striker scored 31 goals in 2018 to win the MLS Golden Boot, then broke the regular season scoring record of 27 goals. First MLS Cup title.
Martinez followed up his historic 2018 season by scoring 33 goals in 39 games in all competitions in 2019 and was the team’s leading scorer in both the MLS Champions League and Concacaf. In league play, he scored 27 goals and added four assists and finished third in both MVP voting and the Golden Boot race. The forward has scored in 15 consecutive MLS games (May 24 – September 18) and holds the record for most goals scored in a three-season period in MLS history (77 from 2017-19). Martínez joined the MLS elite by becoming the seventh player to score three consecutive 15+ goal seasons.
He also holds the league record for most hat-tricks with six and the single-season mark with three (2017 and 2018).
After suffering an ACL tear in the opening game of the 2020 MLS season that forced him to miss the entire year, Martinez returned in 2021 to score 12 goals in 24 games (18 starts). During that time, Martínez became the fastest player in MLS history to score 100 goals in all competitions, reaching the mark in just 125 games.
Last year, Martinez started the season with two goals and two assists in his first five games but was forced to miss two months after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in April. He finished the season with nine goals and added four assists in 26 games (12 starts). In total, Martínez scored 111 goals in all competitions for Atlanta.
Statement from Arthur M. Blank, Owner and Chairman of Blank Family of Business, Inc
“Since his arrival in 2017, Joseph Martinez has put his heart and soul into Atlanta United. We’ve seen a lot of firsts together – the inaugural year of Atlanta United, Joseph’s first MLS season, a number of record performances, and of course the MLS Championship together. Joseph is a one-of-a-kind athlete. “I am grateful to him and his family for taking the opportunity in Atlanta and growing with us. He is one of the most decorated MLS players of all time and has made Atlanta, and the entire league proud, while also proudly representing his beautiful country Venezuela. I know Joseph will continue to shine as he heads to the next stop.” On his professional journey. I’m grateful for the time we spent with him, and I know I speak for all 17 seconds when I say ‘Thank you Joseph.’ He’s a cherished member of the Atlanta United family.”
Transaction: Atlanta United exercised their one-off off-season guaranteed contract acquisition of Joseph Martinez on January 18, 2023.
Atlanta United squad roster in 2023 (as of January 18, 2023)
Goalkeepers (4): Clément Diop, Justin Garcis, Brad Guzan, Quentin Westberg
Defenders (9): Noah Cobb, Andrew Guttman, Ronald Hernandez, Brooks Lennon, Aiden McFadden, Efren Morales, Juanjo Burata, Miles Robinson, Caleb Wiley
Medium (11): Thiago Almada, Ozy Alonso, and Ezequiel Barco*And Derek Etienne Jr., Ajani Fortune, Franco Ibarra, Marcelino Moreno**, Matheus Rossetto, Amar Cejdic, Santiago Sosa, Tyler Wolf
Attackers (6): Luiz Araujo, Eric Centeno, Matchup Chol, Jackson Conway, Eric Lopez, Edwin Mosquera
* On loan to River Plate until the 2023 season
** On loan to Coritiba FC until the 2023 season