The San Jose Earthquakes bolstered their roster Tuesday by bringing back Ecuador National Team midfielder Carlos Gruezo to the MLS as their Designated Player.
Gruezo, 27, signed a three-year deal with an option for 2026 to become the Earthquakes’ second major off-season addition before the start of the regular season next month. Gruezo has played internationally for Ecuador in 47 matches, including in the 2022 World Cup.
Ahora llegando de Ecuador. 🇪🇨 pic.twitter.com/OMdCOvNBIe
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) January 31, 2023
Gruezo, whose arrival comes 10 days after San Jose acquired Brazilian goalkeeper Daniel, will be reunited with new Earthquakes coach Luchi Gonzalez. Gruezo played with FC Dallas from 2016-19 — scoring three goals and assisting on seven others in 98 games there — including the last six months in 2019 when Gonzalez was hired as coach.
“Obviously I know Carlos from his time in Dallas. I had a good relationship with him but only had a chance to work with him for a few months because he was transferred to Germany,” Gonzalez said in a release. ‘I have a lot of respect for him. He’s a hard worker and has the obvious tools in terms of ball recovery and intensity. To me, it’s a position we need competition, we need leadership, and we need experience. With his signing, I think we have a midfield that can compete with the best in the league.”
Gruezo could help give San Jose a formidable trio of midfielders, including fellow Designated Player Jamiro Monteiro and Jackson Yueill.
Gruezo spent the past three and a half years competing for FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga, making 75 appearances. He made 15 appearances, including 14 starts, during the first half of the 2022-23 season.
“Carlos joins us in the prime of his career after successful campaigns in South America, Major League Soccer, and Europe,” Earthquakes general manager Chris Leitch said in a release. “He’s spent the past few seasons in one of the top leagues in the world and previously showed he can be among the best players at his position in MLS.”
The Earthquakes will open the 2023 MLS regular season on Feb. 25 at Atlanta United.
