The San Jose Earthquakes are nearing a deal to sell promising young player Cade Cowell to the Liga MX side Chivas, an industry source confirmed to the Bay Area News Group.
Cowell, 20, was in camp with the United States Men’s National Team until Thursday, when he was permitted to leave camp and is expected to sign with Chivas. The deal is pending a physical and approval of the league.
The Earthquakes will receive an initial $4 million in a transfer fee, plus add-ons and a 20% sell-on clause, according to a source. Sell-on clauses allow the original team to benefit from a percentage of a future sale. If Chivas were to sell Cowell to another club, the Quakes would get a portion of the fee.
Chivas, one of Liga MX’s most successful teams with 12 league titles, has typically had a longstanding tradition of signing only Mexican players, but Cowell is ethnically Mexican on his mom’s side and received his Mexican citizenship last week.
“He’s proud of being a dual citizen with opportunities across the border,” tweeted Alejandra Bologna, an ambassador of Mexico.
Cowell was making $600,000 in annual salary as the ninth-highest-paid player on the Earthquakes’ roster, according to the MLS Players Association annual release.
With $4 million incoming, it could give San Jose an opportunity to build on its $14 million payroll, which ranked 18th out of 29 MLS teams last season. Owned and operated by A’s owner John Fisher, the Quakes paid $1.35 million to their highest-paid player, Carlos Gruezo, last season.
Cowell represents a huge loss for the Earthquakes, who will now need to replace his speed, power and creativity from the wing. While he only scored once with three assists in 23 games last season, he often looked like the most dangerous player on the pitch.
Earthquakes coach Luchi Gonzalez didn’t start Cowell in the club’s final postseason game, a 4-2 loss to Sporting KC in penalty kicks, but Cowell came off the bench in the 55th minute and “came in with fantastic energy and confidence,” Gonzalez said afterward.
A homegrown player who began his academy career in Pleasanton before signing with the Earthquakes as a 14-year-old, Cowell became the fastest player ever to appear in 100 MLS games. He’ll finish his San Jose career with 10 goals in 114 appearances.
Cowell also led the United States in scoring during the U-20 World Cup last spring and was reportedly drawing interest from teams in Ligue 1 in France and Serie A in Italy. But the sell-on percentage offered by Serie A team Bologna last year was lower than the 20% sell-on in the deal with Chivas, according to a source.
Cowell’s younger brother, Chance, is still part of the Earthquakes organization and also plays for Mexico’s U-15 national team.
It’s uncertain whether or not Cade Cowell will continue to represent the United States at the international level.
While Chivas typically requires its players to represent Mexico, the club now has “relaxed rules regarding players needing to commit to the Mexico national team,” ESPN reported this week.
Chivas will play its first game of the new season on Jan. 13.
