Montreal Impact Midfielder Gjertsen Signs With San Jose

The San Jose Earthquakes have signed Montreal Impact midfielder Joey Gjertsen to a contract, according to a French-language report from Rue Frontenac. His two-year deal with the former USL-1 team expired at the end of the 2009 season, allowing Frank Yallop to swoop in and sign him.

Gjertsen, 27, is a native of Tacoma, Washington, who started his professional career with the Vancouver Whitecaps back in 2005. His talent was on display almost immediately, as he was named rookie of the year following the ’05 season and was named USL MVP only a year later. After 18 goals in 74 appearances, the Whitecaps traded Gjertsen to the Impact in July 2007. He went on to play in 66 games for Montreal and started all 10 of their 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League matches during the team’s improbable run to the tournament quarterfinals.