Earthquakes Sign Slovakian Midfielder Jan Gregus
January 6, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has signed Slovakian midfielder Jan Gregus to a contract for the 2022 season, using Targeted Allocation Money, with a club option for 2023. The Earthquakes selected Gregus with the seventh pick in Stage 2 of the 2021 Major League Soccer Re-Entry Draft on December 23.
"We're very excited to welcome Jan to San Jose," said Earthquakes General Manager Chris Leitch. "We have always thought very highly of him during his time in Major League Soccer and know his ability to impact matches in many ways. He's also familiar with the unique challenges of this league and his experience, both domestic and international, will be an asset for our club."
Gregus, 30, competed for Minnesota United FC as a Designated Player for the past three seasons, totaling 63 regular season appearances, 57 starts, two goals and 18 assists. In 2019, his first season in MLS, Gregus made 30 appearances and tallied 11 assists, tied for 11th most in the league, helping Minnesota to a fourth-place finish in the Western Conference. He then scored the team's lone goal in a 2-1 defeat to the LA Galaxy in the First Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Gregus also tallied a goal and an assist in four matches during the 2019 U.S. Open Cup, helping Minnesota reach the Final vs. Atlanta United FC.
The following year, Gregus started 18 of Minnesota's 21 games during the pandemic-shortened season and tallied one goal and six assists en route to another fourth-place finish in the West. In addition to leading Minnesota to the Semifinals of the MLS is Back Tournament , Gregus also provided one assist and played every minute during Minnesota's postseason run to the Western Conference Final. Gregus then made nine starts in 15 total appearances in 2021 to help Minnesota reach the playoffs as the No. 5 seed.
JAN GREGUS MLS REGULAR SEASON STATS
Season Team Appearances Starts Goals Assists
2019 MIN 30 30 1 11
2020* MIN 18 18 1 6
2021 MIN 15 9 0 1
TOTAL 63 57 2 18
*Minnesota played 21 regular season matches due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Prior to MLS, Gregus played for teams in Denmark, the Czech Republic, England and Slovakia. He made over 100 appearances for Danish side FC Copenhagen, including four appearances in UEFA Champions League competition, and led the team to the domestic double during the 2016-17 season. He has also scored four goals in 36 caps for the Slovakia National Team since his international debut in 2015.
Gregus received his U.S. Green Card in 2021 and will not count as an international on San Jose's roster.
Jan Gregus
(yahn GREG-us)
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-3
Weight: 182 lbs.
Born: Jan. 29, 1991, in Nitra, Slovakia
Preferred Foot: Right
Hometown: Nitra, Slovakia
Previous Club: Minnesota United FC (MLS)
College: N/A
Roster Designation: Domestic
Citizenship: Slovakia
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) - Earthquakes sign M Jan Gregus to a contract for the 2022 season, using Targeted Allocation Money, with a club option for 2023.
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...
Major League Soccer Stories from January 6, 2022
- Three Sounders FC Players Called into International Duty - Seattle Sounders FC
- Earthquakes Sign Slovakian Midfielder Jan Gregus - San Jose Earthquakes
- LA Galaxy Sign Defender Kelvin Leerdam - LA Galaxy
- D.C. United Winger Paul Arriola Selected by Gregg Berhalter for USMNT Camp in Phoenix in January - D.C. United
- Columbus Crew Announces Pair of International Call-Ups - Columbus Crew SC
- Two Players Called up for International Duty - New York City FC
- Walker Zimmerman Called in to United States Men's National Team January Camp - Nashville SC
- Djordje Mihailovic Called up by the United States National Team - Club de Foot Montreal
- Matt Turner, Sebastian Lletget, and DeJuan Jones Named to United States Men's National Team Roster for January Preparation Camp - New England Revolution
- Homegrown Goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina Called to U.S. Men's National Team Training Camp - Chicago Fire FC
- Midfielder Jackson Yueill Called to U.S. Men's National Team January Camp - San Jose Earthquakes
- FC Dallas Homegrown Jesús Ferreira Called into National Team Camp - FC Dallas
- George Bello, Brooks Lennon and Miles Robinson Called up to United States Men's National Team for January Training Camp - Atlanta United FC
- Colorado Rapids Sign Brazilian Midfielder Max Alves - Colorado Rapids
- FC Dallas Announces 2022 Preseason Schedule - FC Dallas
- Columbus Crew Acquires Ghanaian Winger Yaw Yeboah from Wisla Krakow - Columbus Crew SC
- Eight Standout Collegians Comprise 2022 Generation adidas Class - MLS
- Canada-Guatemala Match Cancelled - Inter Miami CF
- Sounders FC Receives $50,000 in General Allocation Money from Charlotte FC in Exchange for Priority to Chris Hegardt - Seattle Sounders FC
- Charlotte FC Signs Georgetown Midfielder Chris Hegardt in Exchange for $50,000 in General Allocation Money from Seattle Sounders FC - Charlotte FC
- FC Cincinnati Sign Defender John Nelson - FC Cincinnati
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent San Jose Earthquakes Stories
- Earthquakes to Host Oakland Roots SC in 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on May 7
- Quakes Blanked By Rapids
- Cristian Espinoza Selected to MLS Team of the Matchday
- Quakes Edged Late In Stoppage Time To Cap Seven-Goal Affair
- Earthquakes Exceed 30,000 Tickets Sold for May 4 Levi's Stadium Clash vs. LAFC