Former MU star joins club that has never played a match

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez has become the very first player ever signed by Atletico Dallas, a US side that has yet to play a game and won't start competing until 2027.

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez has chosen a unique destination for the final stage of his career. The former striker Manchester United and Real Madrid has officially signed with Atletico Dallas, a completely new American club that has never played any official match.

According to an announcement by Atletico Dallas on July 27, Chicharito signed a two-year contract with an option for the club to extend for one more season. The deal still requires approval from the league organizers and the U.S. Soccer Federation. Notably, the Mexican striker becomes the first player ever recruited in the history of Atletico Dallas..

Atletico Dallas is an expansion team of the USL Championship, the second tier of professional soccer in the US, below MLS. The club will begin playing in the 2027 season and will use the Cotton Bowl as its home stadium.

Thus, Chicharito put pen to paper before his new team played its first match. Atletico Dallas is still in the process of building its structure, hiring staff, and finalizing the squad for its debut season.

Although moving to a club with no playing history, the 38-year-old striker insists this is not merely a place to wind down his career.

Chicharito declared: "I am not coming here just to end my career. I am coming to help build the future of soccer in Dallas."

The Mexican star also believes that the opportunity to be part of building a team from its very first days carries a completely different meaning compared to his previous experiences. "I have been fortunate to wear the jerseys of some of the biggest clubs in the world and play in amazing stadiums. However, this opportunity is very different", Chicharito shared.

This move immediately drew attention to Atletico Dallas, especially among the Mexican and Spanish-speaking communities in North Texas. Instead of choosing a young player as the foundation, the new club decided to place its trust in one of the most prominent names in Mexican soccer history.

Chicharito is the all-time top scorer for the Mexican national team with 52 goals in 109 appearances. Over a career spanning nearly two decades, he has played for Chivas Guadalajara, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham United, Sevilla, and LA Galaxy.

Chicharito's most memorable mark in Europe came during his time at Manchester United. With his sharp positioning and finishing ability, the striker nicknamed "Little Pea" became an effective attacking option under manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

However, Chicharito has not played any official match since his time with Chivas in November 2025. He left the Mexican club after a season in which he scored only three goals across all competitions and later worked as a television commentator at the 2026 World Cup.

If he takes the field from the start of the 2027 season, Chicharito will face a major challenge in terms of fitness and feel for the ball after a long period without playing. That said, his role at Atletico Dallas may not be measured solely by the number of goals.

With his reputation, experience, and influence within the Mexican soccer community, the former MU star is expected to become the first icon, helping a club that has never played a match begin to write its own history.