Manchester United cult hero Javier Hernandez has become the first-ever signing for a club who are yet to play a match.
The former Mexico captain has joined American side Atletico Dallas, who were founded less than two years ago and are set to make their debut in the second-tier USL Championship in 2027.
It is a surprise move for Hernandez, who turned 38 in June and has not played since November, when he made his final appearance for boyhood team Chivas Guadalajara before leaving the club the following month.
Javier Hernandez explains reasons behind shock move to new American club
The striker, also known by his nickname 'Chicharito', joined United from Chivas in summer 2010 and went on to score 59 goals in 157 appearances, helping the club win the Premier League in 2011 and 2013 and reach the 2011 Champions League final.
He spent the 2014/15 season on loan at Real Madrid and joined Bayer Leverkusen the following summer, before spells at West Ham United, Sevilla, LA Galaxy and a return to Chivas.
Hernandez is Mexico's all-time top goalscorer, with 52 goals, but speculation had grown that he was set to retire after Chivas decided not to renew his contract last December and he then spent World Cup 2026 working as a pundit for US broadcaster Fox.
However, he is set to continue his playing career in Texas after signing a two-year contract with the club option of a further 12 months, becoming the first player in Atletico Dallas' history.
Hernandez told the club website: “I’ve been fortunate to live the dreams that every young footballer hopes to experience. I’ve worn some of the biggest shirts in the world and played in incredible stadiums in front of passionate supporters. Opportunities like this, though, are different.”
He added: “I believe Dallas deserves a club that reflects its passion for football, its diversity, and its future. I want to help create a winning culture, inspire young players across North Texas, and give our supporters a team they can believe in from the very beginning.
"I didn’t come here simply to finish my career. I came here to help build the future of football in Dallas.”
The 2027 USL Championship season begins next March, when Hernandez will have not played a competitive match for 16 months. He scored just four goals in almost two years in his recent spell at Chivas.
In February, Dallas appointed former Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid midfielder Peter Luccin as their first manager.
They will play their home games at the 92,000-capacity Cotton Bowl in Dallas, which has been used for various sports and hosted matches during World Cup 1994.
