As the MLS secondary transfer window closed on August 3, the San Jose Earthquakes completed a deal with the Orlando City SC that brought El Salvadorean captain Darwin Ceren to the Quakes in exchange for seldom used playmaker Matias Perez Garcia.
The deal also provided San Jose with some salary relief that can be used to sign any out-of-contract player for the remainder of the 2016 season. Following the Ceren acquisition, it was stated by head coach Dominic Kinnear that the Quakes would try to sign a forward with those funds.