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Philadelphia Union: 2020 Preview – Challenging again?

By Matt Coles

CHESTER, PA - OCTOBER 20: Union Forward Sergio Santos (17) celebrates with Union Forward Fafa Picault (9) after a goal in the second half during the MLS Playoff game between the New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union on October 20, 2019 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHESTER, PA - OCTOBER 20: Union Forward Sergio Santos (17) celebrates with Union Forward Fafa Picault (9) after a goal in the second half during the MLS Playoff game between the New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union on October 20, 2019 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHESTER, PA- SEPTEMBER 14: Goalkeeper Andre Blake #18 of Philadelphia Union throws the ball out to clear it during the Major League Soccer match between LAFC and Philadelphia Union. The match was held at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA on September 14, 2019, USA. The match ended in a tie of 1 to 1. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)
CHESTER, PA- SEPTEMBER 14: Goalkeeper Andre Blake #18 of Philadelphia Union throws the ball out to clear it during the Major League Soccer match between LAFC and Philadelphia Union. The match was held at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA on September 14, 2019, USA. The match ended in a tie of 1 to 1. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images) /

Offseason Summary

Squad Retention

The Philadelphia Union have kept the majority of the crux of their squad ahead off the new season with Jamaican international Andre Blake looking like he will keep the No.1 spot between the sticks.

Alejandro Bedoya will continue to captain the side, Frenchman Aurelien Collin and Englishman Jack Elliott are expected to be the main centre-half partnership going forward, while the likes of homegrown stars Brendon Aaronson and Anthony Fontana will provide some attacking impetus from midfield. Ilsinho, Kai Wagner and, most importantly, last year’s top scorer Kacper Przybylko all return in what is a well-rounded squad.

Transfers & SuperDraft Picks

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Four players left the club after seeing their options being declined or their contracts expiring, while the club traded away two other players for substantial Allocation Money hauls.

Two of their best midfielders, Bosnian Haris Medunjanin and Mexican Marco Fabian, will not return to the club for the 2020 campaign after their options were declined, with the former signing for last year’s basement side, FC Cincinnati, while Fabian has made the move to Qatar, signing for Al Sadd SC. The other two men to leave the club declined contract options were R.J. Allen and Fabinho.

Meanwhile, the Union traded away centre-back Auston Trusty for $750,000 in GAM and TAM, who now finds himself with the Colorado Rapids, and added another $375,000 in GAM by sending Fafa Picault to FC Dallas.

Six went out, but five came. In addition to the permanent signing of Jamiro Monteiro for $2 million, making the midfielder a Designated Player in the process, the Union forked out over $300,000 for Zulia FC’s Venezuelan midfielder Jose Martinez, while both Cole Turner and Jack de Vries have made the move up from the Union’s II squad ahead of the new term.

Philadelphia made two further signings as the European duo of Matej Oravec and Jakob Glesnes signed from DAC Dunjaska Streda and Stromsgodset respectively, each arriving for undisclosed transfer fees.

The Union did not select a single player in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft having traded away their picks from the first two rounds of the night. Philadelphia did have draft picks in the third and fourth round, with two in the latter, but opted to pass on all three.

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