Werner helps Earthquakes beat Atlanta 2-0 in his San Jose debut SAN JOSE – Timo Werner had played only 13 minutes over the past year at RB Leipzig, and had just arrived in the Bay Area from Germany on Wednesday. So the San Jose Earthquakes just wanted to give their star signing a bit of playing time Saturday against Atlanta United FC. But it didn’t take long for Werner to show why many consider him the biggest signing in club history. Werner had an assist 18 minutes into his debut appearance as the Earthquakes continued their hot start with a 2-0 win over Atlanta Saturday at PayPal Park. “It was a good start,” Werner said, “I think the best would’ve been scoring a goal, but you can't have everything. That's why they wanted to bring me here — to create chances, to score goals, to be involved. I'm still only sleeping six hours every night, but it's worth it to play in front of this crowd and to enjoy the football and win it here.” It was the second straight shutout for the Black and Blue, who opened the season with a 3-0 home win over Sporting Kansas City. The Quakes have allowed just two shots on goal this season after holding Atlanta to one in the 89th minute. The Quakes (2-0-0) haven’t had a winning record since 2013, but they’re hoping to change that with the addition of Werner, a 29-year-old who was acquired in late January and is signed through June 2028. “To get him on the field in 30 minutes tonight was good because to travel here and the demands on him over the last couple of days were huge,” coach Bruce Arena said. “So to be able to be mentally tough, to deal with all of that and give it a good performance tonight, it’s really good to see.” The German international had missed the team’s first match due to a visa delay and the birth of his first child just before the season. He made his debut in the 61st minute, replacing striker Preston Judd at the top of the team’s 4-2-3-1 formation. In the 79th minute, Werner received a pass from Jack Skahan and was 1-on-1 against Atlanta center back Enea Mihaj along the right sideline. He beat Mihaj and then whipped a cross to Stanford product Ousseni Bouda, who tapped the ball in to put the Quakes up 2-0. “Jack, in a matter of a day or two, figured out Timo's ability to run is there,” Arena said. “(Timo) took off, and he got to step on the defender and shook him loose a little bit with a little bit of a fake, and delivered an excellent ball across the six-yard box. So I think that's a guy with a lot of experience and ability, and I think he's just going to continue to get better as we move forward as a team.” The San Jose Ultras supporters section welcomed Werner to the club with two banners in German. He has 57 caps for Germany and 449 appearances in the Bundesliga (for VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig) and the Premier League (with Chelsea and Tottenham), but had been sitting on the bench for more than a year. “It was a really exciting week, especially this game tonight, with the welcome from the fans, from the people in the club,” Werner said. “It was a special feeling, because I think, for the last few weeks or months, I got the love that I didn’t have in the past years. “People were very excited to see me play, and that makes me pretty confident to say that it was absolutely the right decision to come here. Of course, being away from Germany, you are always a bit unsure of where you're going, but this makes you pretty confident.” Arena said the plan is to bring Werner along gradually, with the hope that he will play in full matches by April. “I was a bit difficult, to be fair, to keep in shape, to train all the time by myself, to always motivate myself,” Werner said. “But I think there was always the aim or the desire to come here, to be in shape straightaway, and step out of the plane and play like I did today. “Of course, I was not on the level where I should be today, but at least it was enough to get an assist and help the team. I think it’s also important for me to have it in my head that maybe not everything will be perfect, but at least it's starting to work.” Perhaps just as important as Werner’s development for the Quakes has been the play of the defense. After posting just five shutouts last season, the Black and Blue have started a year with back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since re-joining MLS in 1996. The Quakes will next play their first road game next Saturday at Philadelphia (0-1-0). The Union lost its first match 1-0 to DC United. (Courtesy of San Jose Earthquakes)

New addition Timo Werner helps spark Earthquakes to 2-0 win over Atlanta United FC

by · The Mercury News

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SAN JOSE – Timo Werner had played only 13 minutes over the past year at RB Leipzig, and had just arrived in the Bay Area from Germany on Wednesday.

So the San Jose Earthquakes just wanted to give their star signing a bit of playing time Saturday against Atlanta United FC. But it didn’t take long for Werner to show why many consider him the biggest signing in club history.

Werner had an assist 18 minutes into his debut appearance as the Earthquakes continued their hot start with a 2-0 win over Atlanta Saturday at PayPal Park.

“It was a good start,” Werner said, “I think the best would’ve been scoring a goal, but you can’t have everything. That’s why they wanted to bring me here — to create chances, to score goals, to be involved. I’m still only sleeping six hours every night, but it’s worth it to play in front of this crowd and to enjoy the football and win it here.”

Earthquakes forward Preston Judd celebrates his 24th-minute goal against Atlanta United FC - CREDIT Lyndsay Radnedge - ISI Photos 

It was the second straight shutout for the Black and Blue, who opened the season with a 3-0 home win over Sporting Kansas City. The Quakes have allowed just two shots on goal this season after holding Atlanta to one in the 89th minute.

The Quakes (2-0-0) haven’t had a winning record since 2013, but they’re hoping to change that with the addition of Werner, a 29-year-old who was acquired in late January and is signed through June 2028.

“To get him on the field in 30 minutes tonight was good because to travel here and the demands on him over the last couple of days were huge,” coach Bruce Arena said. “So to be able to be mentally tough, to deal with all of that and give it a good performance tonight, it’s really good to see.”

The German international had missed the team’s first match due to a visa delay and the birth of his first child just before the season. He made his debut in the 61st minute, replacing striker Preston Judd at the top of the team’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

In the 79th minute, Werner received a pass from Jack Skahan and was 1-on-1 against Atlanta center back Enea Mihaj along the right sideline. He beat Mihaj and then whipped a cross to Stanford product Ousseni Bouda, who tapped the ball in to put the Quakes up 2-0.

“Jack, in a matter of a day or two, figured out Timo’s ability to run is there,” Arena said. “(Timo) took off, and he got to step on the defender and shook him loose a little bit with a little bit of a fake, and delivered an excellent ball across the six-yard box. So I think that’s a guy with a lot of experience and ability, and I think he’s just going to continue to get better as we move forward as a team.”

The San Jose Ultras supporters section welcomed Werner to the club with two banners in German. He has 57 caps for Germany and 449 appearances in the Bundesliga (for VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig) and the Premier League (with Chelsea and Tottenham), but had been sitting on the bench for more than a year.

“It was a really exciting week, especially this game tonight, with the welcome from the fans, from the people in the club,” Werner said. “It was a special feeling, because I think, for the last few weeks or months, I got the love that I didn’t have in the past years.

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Timo Werner #11 of the San Jose Earthquakes during warmups prior to a game between Atlanta United FC and San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on February 28, 2026 in San Jose, California. 

“People were very excited to see me play, and that makes me pretty confident to say that it was absolutely the right decision to come here. Of course, being away from Germany, you are always a bit unsure of where you’re going, but this makes you pretty confident.”

Arena said the plan is to bring Werner along gradually, with the hope that he will play in full matches by April.

“I was a bit difficult, to be fair, to keep in shape, to train all the time by myself, to always motivate myself,” Werner said. “But I think there was always the aim or the desire to come here, to be in shape straightaway, and step out of the plane and play like I did today.

“Of course, I was not on the level where I should be today, but at least it was enough to get an assist and help the team. I think it’s also important for me to have it in my head that maybe not everything will be perfect, but at least it’s starting to work.”

Perhaps just as important as Werner’s development for the Quakes has been the play of the defense.

After posting just five shutouts last season, the Black and Blue have started a year with back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since re-joining MLS in 1996.

The Quakes will next play their first road game next Saturday at Philadelphia (0-1-0). The Union lost its first match 1-0 to DC United.

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