Photo: Howie Pollard
Philadelphia Union signed 18-year-old Ghanaian defender Abasa Aremeyaw on Thursday afternoon.
The center-back, a free agent, signed a 2.5-year contract, with club options for two more years.
“Abasa is a promising young player who has the physique and skill to develop into a contributor in our back line,” Union sporting director Ernst Tanner said in a press release. “His demonstrated ability to make an impact on set plays, combined with his speed and agility, makes him a good fit in the strong defensive system we have built.”
Aremeyaw last played for MSK Zilina B in the second-tier league in Slovakia, making seven starts for that side.
At 6’3″ and 187 pounds, Aremeyaw has prototypical size for a central defender, though he is not expected to jump into a role for the first team right away. Aremeyaw will likely begin his time in America playing for Union II, with an opportunity to win a role with the first team next season. After starters Jakob Glesnes and Jack Elliott, the only other central defender currently on the Union’s roster is Homegrown Brendan Craig, who has just one MLS appearance.
Fast facts on our new signing, Abasa Aremeyaw!#DOOP pic.twitter.com/S3TnJBtruB
— PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) August 4, 2022
Aremeyaw is the Union’s second signing of the week, after the club completed the acquisition of midfielder Richard Odada from Red Star Belgrade earlier this week. No further signings are expected this summer, as the MLS incoming transfer window closes today, August 4.
In an interview with Fox The Gambler’s Joe Tansey, Tanner said that the goal this summer was to sign players who can contribute next season.
“We do not want to pressurize anybody in any way in bringing him into a situation where he can’t even succeed at this moment,” said Tanner. “We need to be patient with our boys and you see all the summer additions we had took their time . . . we need to give them time to adapt and we play a little bit of a different system than even most of the clubs over in Europe. That takes some time.”
Tanner also said that he does not expect any Union players to leave the club this summer, as no official bids have come in for rumored departures Jose Martinez or Kai Wagner.
“There is always a little bit of rumor of movement, but again, there is nothing on the table.”
I would point out that Homegrown signings are not restricted by the closing of the transfer windows.
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Tommy Wilson has said to me that the are actively trying to retain Marcos Zambrano. He would be a homegrown. He turns 18 late next January, so it would be some type of legal finesse of him being under age 18 were there an announcement now. Pre-contract or whatever the lawyers concoct.
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At the open practice July 30 Cole Turner was the 4th CB and Anton Sorenson was practicing with the first team, providing one extra field player for practice.
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Aremeyaw will have the same paperwork delays as all the other internationals.
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Time will tell what this means for Gino Portella going forward, and perhaps Cole Turner who has been only a bench presence for the first team as a Homegrown so far. He signed originally when the 2nd team was still called Bethlehem Steel FC.