Philadelphia Union: Marco Fabian provides hope, excitement

The Philadelphia Union signed Mexican International Marco Fabian from German Bundesliga Eintracht Frankfurt. He provides hope and excitement for 2019.

The Philadelphia Union have agreed to terms with German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt for Mexican International Marco Fabian. The deal is for one year, plus two club option years with Frankfurt receiving a 5% sell-off fee if the Union were to sell Fabian.

The news, first mentioned by Taylor Twellman, is a needed addition to the Union midfield to go along with Alejandro Bedoya and Haris Medunjanin. The signing could mitigate the loss of record-setting assist man Borek Dockal, who led the league with 18 assists in 31 matches last season.

The Czech International, who was on loan last season, returned to Chinese Super League club Henan Jianye leaving a big hole for the Union going into the 2019 season. Fabian will join Alejandro Bedoya as a Designated Player for the Union.

https://twitter.com/PhilaUnion/status/1093987087538364416

Speaking in a statement when the signing was made, Union sporting director Ernst Tanner stated:

"“We have been targeting Marco as a creative midfielder and we are extremely happy to complete this deal to bring him to Philadelphia. Marco is a high caliber number 10, a true professional, and we believe he is a good fit for our system. He has played the game at the highest levels, whether in the German Bundesliga or of course with the Mexican National Team at multiple FIFA World Cups and the Olympic Games. We are looking forward to welcoming Marco as we turn our attention to the final phase of our preseason in Clearwater, followed by the season opener on March 2 vs. Toronto FC.”"

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The new Union attacking midfielder, who will turn 30 in July, has struggled to get minutes the past two seasons, having only appeared in 63 minutes this current season after sitting out most of last season with a back injury. In Fabian’s first full season with the German club, in 2016-2017, he netted seven goals in 24 appearances. Fabian was selected to the Mexico 23-man World Cup Squad, this past year, but only appeared in the final group stage match as a 67th-minute substitute against Sweden. Due to his lack of playing time, and lingering back injury, the attacking midfielder has only netted four total goals, with three of those coming in either an international or club friendly, and played 19 total matches between club and country.

The Union have opened the preseason in a 4-4-2 formation, for the first three games, that included a 3-2 win against the New York Red Bulls, a 0-0 tie against the University of South Florida and a 3-1 win over the Birmingham Legion.

If Jim Curtin decides to stick with the 4-4-2 the natural spot for Fabian to slide into would be the top of the midfield four with Derrick Jones on the left, Bedoya on the right and Medunjanin in the deep midfield position. Kevin Kinkead, of Crossing Broad, provided a look of that potential starting lineup, with Fabian, may look like.

I am not convinced that Fabian will be as big of a playmaker, stats wise, as Union fans are hoping for, but his mere presence will help this team on the field immediately. Long commercial flights and turf fields in MLS are a worry for a player who has had back problems over the last few years and his lack of match time, and a short preseason, worries me about his fitness. But more than his goals or assists, the signing brings in a new era for the Philadelphia Union fans who are used to only signing up and coming players with potential.

This is not a typical Philadelphia Union signing, but one that will certainly bring some excitement to Chester as the season is just under one month away.