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.
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.
