The San Jose Earthquakes took a major step for next season and re-signed Major League Soccer MVP Chris Wondolowski to a new contract.
According to ESPN.com, the team announced the deal on Tuesday and is now the second San Jose player to take a designated player spot. Last season Wondolowski tied an MLS record with 27 goals, equaling Roy Lassiter's mark on Tampa Bay in 1996.
Wondolowski is from the Bay area and won the Golden Boot award last season as the highest scoring player in the league. The team took home the Supporters' Shield after clinching the best record in the regular season and Wondolowski became the first player in franchise history to win MVP.
"This is a tremendous honor," Wondolowski said in a team statement. "I want to thank (general manager) John Doyle and our ownership group for getting this deal done. As my hometown team, I couldn't be more excited to sign a Designated Player contract with the Earthquakes. These last few years have been amazing and I look forward to continuing my career in San Jose."
Wondolowski is the first player in MLS history to lead the league in scoring for three straight seasons and according to SI.com, he will make at least double the $300,000 he made last year.
Wondolowski has scored 61 goals over the last three season and scored 18 goals in 2010 before leading the league with 16 in 2011. He originally came to the Earthquakes through the MLS Supplemental Draft and he moved with the team to Houston, scoring four goals in 37 games.
Wondolowski was traded to the new San Jose franchise during the 2009 season and scored three goals in 14 games played.
"Chris has been a fantastic player for this club over the last three years and this new contract is a just reward," Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop said. "He's been the top goal scorer in our league over the last three years, works hard and does all the right things on and off the field. We're very excited to have him in the fold long-term here in San Jose."
