Philadelphia Union: Adding Kai Wagner brings depth and potential

The Philadelphia Union have added German left-back Kai Wagner. The young 21-year-old is an unknown but is expected to be handed playing time, providing both depth and potential.

The Philadelphia Union have added German left back Kai Wagner for an undisclosed fee. Wagner comes from the Wurzburger Kickers of the German third division.

There is not much known about the 21-year-old, but he appeared in 33 matches for the Schalke reserve team and also appeared on SSV Ulm, in the fourth tier of German football, for 32 matches.

Union sporting director Ernst Tanner, who has many years of experience in Germany, said of the young left back:

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"“We are delighted to complete Kai’s signing as he is an up-and-coming and very physical left full-back with high ability and even further potential. He can cover a lot of ground and he’s quick. You have somebody who is going in both directions very quick and there are not so many players capable of doing this.”"

This signing seems to be a long-term project that will get started right away as Matt Real is expected to be on the Under-20 World Cup squad in May and June. Wagner will join what is already a very young defensive line that, besides for the three defenders 29 or older, has an average age of 21. This is the second addition to the Union backline in the last few weeks as the Veteran Aurelien Collin arrived on a free transfer from the New York Red Bulls this offseason also.

The Wagner signing will probably leave some Philadelphia Union supporters saying same old Union, but if the club can get over the finish line with Mexican International Marco Fabian sentiments may change.

Wagner has been in Clearwater training with the club for the past few days and I would expect to see him get minutes in the final two preseason matches. The Union finish the preseason with a match against the Birmingham Legion, on Wednesday 2/6, and then finish the preseason with a match against the Montreal Impact on Saturday 2/16. He will likely start at least one of those matches.

Assuming he plays and plays well, there is the chance to earn starting minutes. Raymon Gaddis started the most games at left-back last season, but with Keegan Rosenberry departing in the offseason and Tanner conceding that he feels Gaddis is better suited on the right side of the defence, Wagner will have the opportunity to compete for a starting role.

Adding Wagner is the Philadelphia Union giving themselves another bite at the cherry. This is what their youth project relies upon: probabilities and numbers, and Wagner is simply another swing of the old bat.