Jackson Martínez comes out of retirement at 39 to sign with Independiente Medellín

Jackson Martínez is back in business. The Colombian striker, who retired in December 2020, returns to professional football at 39 to play for Deportivo Independiente Medellín, the club where he started his career and where he remains one of its biggest idols. The agreement links him to the red side of Medellín, at least for now, until the end of 2025.

• The move was officially announced by the club on Friday.
• Jackson Martínez had been retired since December 2020 after a career hampered by injuries.
• His new contract with DIM initially runs through December.
• The comeback allows him to play again alongside Juan Fernando Quintero, his former Porto teammate.
• He is one of Deportivo Independiente Medellín's all-time leading scorers.

Independiente Medellín announces Jackson Martínez's return

The club confirmed the news with a statement highlighting the significance of bringing back one of its greatest legends. DIM described Martínez as "one of the great references" in its history and "one of the top scorers" of the institution. The club added that his return represents "much more than the arrival of a player," because it brings back a reference who left an unforgettable mark on the club.

Jackson Martínez's career: goals, injuries and an early retirement

Born on October 3, 1986, in Quibdó, capital of the Chocó department, Jackson Martínez made his debut with Independiente Medellín in 2005. During his first spell at the club he scored 44 goals and won the 2009 Clausura title, a tournament in which he was the top scorer with 18 goals. That form turned him into an idol of El Poderoso and opened the doors to international football.

In 2009 he moved to the now defunct Jaguares de Chiapas, where he scored 36 goals in three years before making the jump to Porto. With the Portuguese side he enjoyed his brightest years in Europe and became a fan favorite at the Estádio do Dragão. For the 2015/2016 season, Atlético Madrid signed him, although his time at the club was short: six months, 23 matches and 3 goals.

From China to Portugal: the injury that stalled Jackson Martínez

After leaving Atlético Madrid, the Colombian moved to Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League. He played 16 matches between league and cup with 4 goals and began suffering the recurring injuries that prevented him from keeping a competitive rhythm. The most serious was a severe ankle injury suffered between 2015 and 2016, which kept him off the pitch for more than 18 months.

On March 1, 2018, the Chinese club and his agents agreed to terminate the contract. That same year he signed for Portimonense in Portugal's top flight, where he scored his last goal as a professional in February 2020, in a 2-1 defeat against Sporting Lisbon. In December of that year he announced his retirement, unable to recover the level that had made him one of the most feared strikers in Europe.

A reunion with Juan Fernando Quintero at DIM

Jackson Martínez's return to Colombian football gives him the chance to play again alongside Juan Fernando Quintero, his former Porto teammate. The two are set to share a dressing room at Deportivo Independiente Medellín, a club betting on experienced talent to face the second half of the year.

Jackson Martínez's legacy at DIM and in Colombian football

His return represents much more than the arrival of a player. It is the return of a reference who left an unforgettable mark on our institution and who, after building an outstanding international career, wears red again to keep writing his story with DIM.

At 39, the striker takes on the challenge of competing again in the Colombian league with the team of his city. His trophy cabinet includes a Colombian league title with DIM and silverware in Portugal with Porto, while his career took him through Mexico, Spain and China. Now the goal is to prove his body can respond and that he can still contribute goals in the final stretch of his career.