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Former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez has become the first-ever signing for a club that have yet to play a match.

The former Mexico captain has joined American side Atletico Dallas, who were formed less than two years ago and are scheduled to make their debut in the second-tier USL Championship in 2027.

It is a surprising move for Hernandez, who turned 38 in June and has not played since November, when he made his final appearance for boyhood club Chivas Guadalajara before leaving the side the following month.

The striker, better known by his nickname 'Chicharito', joined United from Chivas in the summer of 2010 and went on to score 59 goals in 157 appearances, helping the club win the Premier League in 2011 and 2013 and reach the 2011 Champions League final.

He spent the 2014/15 season on loan at Real Madrid and moved to Bayer Leverkusen the following summer, before later spells at West Ham United, Sevilla, LA Galaxy and a return to Chivas.

Hernandez is Mexico's all-time leading scorer with 52 goals, but speculation had increased that he was heading towards retirement after Chivas chose not to renew his contract last December, and he then spent World Cup 2026 working as a pundit for US broadcaster Fox.

Even so, he is now set to extend his playing career in Texas after signing a two-year contract with the option of a further 12 months, becoming the first player in Atletico Dallas' history.

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Hernandez told the club website: “I’ve been fortunate to live the dreams that every young footballer hopes to experience. I’ve worn some of the biggest shirts in the world and played in incredible stadiums in front of passionate supporters. Opportunities like this, though, are different.”

He added: “I believe Dallas deserves a club that reflects its passion for football, its diversity, and its future. I want to help create a winning culture, inspire young players across North Texas, and give our supporters a team they can believe in from the very beginning.

"I didn’t come here simply to finish my career. I came here to help build the future of football in Dallas.”

The 2027 USL Championship season starts next March, by which time Hernandez will have gone 16 months without a competitive match. He scored only four goals in almost two years during his recent spell at Chivas.

In February, Dallas appointed former Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid midfielder Peter Luccin as their first manager.

They will play their home matches at the 92,000-capacity Cotton Bowl in Dallas, which has been used for several sports and hosted games during World Cup 1994.