Rumor: San Jose Earthquakes to sign Eduardo ‘Chofis’ Lopez?

The San Jose Earthquakes made indications they will be making some higher profile signings this offseason, and one rumor has persisted for weeks.

Multiple sources out of the Spanish-language press have claimed the Earthquakes are going to be adding midfielder Eduardo Lopez for the 2021 season, most recently ESPN Deportes.

The 26-year-old is an attacking midfielder who has spent his entire professional career to date with Chivas de Guadalajara, where he of course worked with Earthquakes head coach Matias Almeyda from 2015-18, the duo winning a Liga MX title, Copa MX and the Concacaf Champions League.

Nicknamed “Chofis,” Lopez is a mercurial player, who’s mixed spells of effective play with stretches where he looks out of sorts, and he was effectively kicked off Chivas’ team in the fall for taking part in a party in which a different player allegedly sexually assaulted someone. Perhaps cursed with a pudgy babyface, Lopez exactly the kind of player who may either have hit his ceiling already as a player, or the searing limelight of Guadalajara may prove to be too much for him and he needs a new challenge.

For what it’s worth, one would think Almeyda wouldn’t want Lopez unless he thinks he can do the business, and Lopez was a versatile midfielder and attacker while playing for Almeyda in the past. With San Jose in need of an a productive attacking midfielder who’s also capable of performing the defensive responsibilities and raising the general level of the team, adding Lopez would seem to be a risk but a calculated one, again, given he’s worked with Almeyda before to considerable success.

The Earthquakes did not respond to a request for comment from Center Line Soccer on the reports.

While I haven’t seen much chatter about this rumor in the English-language press it’s being treated as a done deal in the Spanish press. It’s possible this is hot air but I don’t think so, I think this one will get done.

We’ll keep you posted on details as and if we learn more.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.