Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union / Sam Navarro — USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Union added a newcomer to the back line on Wednesday afternoon, completing the acquisition of Jamaica international center back Damion Lowe from Inter Miami CF.
“Damion is an experienced defender who fits into our current needs,” Union sporting director Ernst Tanner said in a press release.
In exchange, the Union sent Miami $225,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money, a 2024 first round SuperDraft pick, and Homegrown priority over attacker Shanyder Borgelin. Borgelin is a former Union II player and Union Academy product who is currently signed to Inter Miami II. The Union will retain an unspecified percentage of a future sell-on fee.
Lowe fills a key role on the depth chart — the No. 3 center back position behind Jakob Glesnes and Jack Elliott. After Stuart Findlay departed the club last year, the Union relied on unproven Homegrown Brandan Craig as primary cover. Lowe gives Philly an experienced option if either starter were to suffer an injury or leave the club.
“He’s an athletic, quick player and we expect him to be an important piece of our defensive unit as we begin a season that will require lineup and formation changes due to the unprecedented number of matches,” said Tanner.
Lowe, 29, has had a winding professional career. After getting his start with Reading United, the Seattle Sounders drafted him with the eighth pick of the 2014 SuperDraft — the same draft where the Union picked Andre Blake and Pedro Ribeiro. But Lowe never appeared for the Sounders, spending time on loan with Sounders 2 and NASL Minnesota United before stints with Norwegian side IK Smart, USL Championship squad Phoenix Rising, and Egypt’s Al Ittihad Alexandria. He returned to the U.S. in 2022 with Inter Miami, starting 28 games for Phil Neville’s side.
Lowe has 50 appearances for the Jamaican national team; because he holds a U.S. green card, he does not occupy an international slot. Per the MLSPA’s regular salary updates, his 2022 base salary was $225,000.
His jersey number has not been announced, although 4 is available and seems like a reasonable possibility. (For those who’ve missed it, Daniel Gazdag has switched to No. 10 after signing a new contract, while new acquisition Andres Perea has been wearing 6 during preseason.)
Other moves may be coming soon. Tom Bogert of MLSSoccer.com (among others) has reported that the Union are set to bring in attacker Joaquin Torres from CF Montreal and transfer Homegrown goalkeeper Matt Freese to New York City FC. Those deals have not been announced by the club.
Welcome to Philly, Damion! Well, sort of… Enjoy the Florida weather for a little longer. 🙂
In every preseason Jim Curtin has ever run, after two weeks in Florida, they have come home for a weekend before returning. In previous years the break was often on Valentine’s Day.
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There has been no announcement.
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But there is an hiatus between the Minnesota scrimmage on Friday the 27th and the New England one on Sunday, February 5th sufficient that they could be coming home late Friday through Sunday before returning to Clearwater next Monday.
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Sources with knowledge of Union II’s plans indicate that they will arrive in Florida by the middle of next week, furthering the expectation that Phase One of Preseason will transition to phase two following the pattern of previous years.
Apropos of nothing to do with Damion Lowe, Jose Riasco did not start against Uruguay’s U20s on Tuesday the 24th in Venezuela U20s 3-0 loss. He substituted on in the 66th minute. The matches come every other day, so his not starting is not a surprise.
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They play again tonight at 7:30 ET against Ecuador’s U20s. There is no indication that Marcos Zambrano is in that squad.
Thanks for the intel, Tim!