Quakes loan star striker Arango to Colombian side

The Earthquakes loaned Chicho Arango, last winter’s prize trade acquisition and this offseason’s re-signee, to Colombia’s Atlético Nacional before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Arango, a forward who scored 13 goals for the Quakes last season, is a native of Medellin, where Nacional is based. The loan includes a purchase option on Arango’s new contract, which runs through December 2027, with club options for two seasons after.

The team cited personal reasons for Arango’s return to Colombia, which comes mere weeks after the Quakes announced he had signed a new deal.

San Jose has now lost its top two scorers from last season after not exercising its contract option on Josef Martinez, who had 14 goals last season and signed with Tijuana of Liga MX last month. The Quakes also saw captain Cristian Espinoza sign with Nashville in free agency, before bringing in a major signing of their own last week in German forward Timo Werner.

The Quakes added Arango last January from Real Salt Lake in exchange for $700,000 in general allocation money in each of 2025 and 2026, plus a 2026 international player slot.

They head to the Coachella Valley Invitational for preseason games this week ahead of their regular-season opener Feb. 21 against Sporting Kansas City at PayPal Park.