The Philadelphia Union announced that midfielder Jose Martinez signed a contract extension on Thursday.
Martinez's new contract is guaranteed until 2025, with an option year for 2026. The Venezuelan international, who signed for Philadelphia in 2020, has made 78 regular season appearances for the Union and made his first appearance during a 3-3 draw at LAFC in 2020.
The 28-year-old midfielder was reportedly a target for Turkish club Besiktas in January and has been a mainstay in the Philadelphia starting XI since making his debut. Martinez played a key role in the club's MLS Cup final run in 2022 as the Union won the Eastern Conference, and he also played a role in the 2020 team that won the Supporters Shield, Philadelphia's first piece of silverware.
Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner was full of praise for the midfielder nicknamed 'El Brujo', saying “Jose has continuously demonstrated his importance to this team, with his passion and performance proving vital to the team’s success over the past few seasons.
“He’s dominant in the midfield and an important piece in our transition on attack. We’re happy to have reached an agreement to extend his stay in Philadelphia.”
Martinez is yet to find the back of the net for the Union but has registered ten assists during his tenure with the club. He has also made 22 appearances for the Venezuelan National Team.