Photo: Stephen Speer
Thursday’s announcement of Matt Real’s new contract — and more recently Jack McGlynn’s — reminds us that contract re-negotiation goes on constantly. And Ernst Tanner has delivered all the roster moves he promised earlier this offseason.
With the acquisition stage of the offseason seemingly wrapped up, here’s a look at the status of the Union’s first-team contracts.
This data is unofficial, gleaned from announcements and articles on the internet. Often, but not always, they have been press releases.
The data is grouped by the urgency of the decisions to be made, from most urgent to least with the completely unknown situations last. Within a group there is no attempt at ranking. The right-hand column, “Re-negotiate in 2023?,” is not data. It is opinion.
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Under Union Control ONLY for 2023
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OPTIONS ONLY, for 2023 and 2024
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HOMEGROWNS, future status unknown
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2023 GUARANTEED, plus subsequent option(s)
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2023, 2024 GUARANTEED, plus subsequent option(s)
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2023, 2024, 2025 GUARANTEED, plus subsequent option(s)
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UNKNOWNS
Data and grouping are as of the evening of Thursday, February 2.
Under Union Control ONLY for 2023
| Players
1 — 9 |
Age | Current contract announced | 2023 contract status | Re-Negotiate in 2023? |
| Kai Wagner | 26.0 | 15-Jan-21 | O 23 | Yes, if he’s willing |
| Nathan Harriel | 21.8 | 17-Jul-20 | O 23 | Definitely |
| Alejandro Bedoya | 35.8 | 22-Sep-22 | 23 | Depends |
| Chris Donovan | 22.5 | 17-Jun-22 | O 23 | Yes, given the pipeline |
| Gino Portella | 21.9 | 1-Jan-21 | O 23 | If he proves it |
| Joe Bendik | 33.8 | 19-Dec-22 | 23 | Yes, if he’s willing |
| Olivier Mbaizo | 25.5 | 17-Aug-21 | 23 | Yes, if he’s willing |
| Joaquin Torres | 26.0 | 26-Jan-23 | 23 | Further years uncertain* |
| Damion Lowe | 29.7 | 25-Jan-23 | 23 | Further years uncertain* |
*See Errata below.
OPTIONS ONLY for 2023 and 2024
| Players
10 — 11 |
Age | Current contract announced | 2023 contract status | Re-Negotiate in 2023? |
| Jose Martinez | 28.5 | 23-Dec-19 | O 23, O 24 | Probably underway |
| Leon Flach | 21.9 | 31-Mar-21 | O 23, O 24 | Yes, if he’s willing |
HOMEGROWNS, so future status unknown
| Players
12 — 14 |
Age | Current contract announced | 2023 contract status | Re-Negotiate in 2023? |
| Brandan Craig | 18.8 | 12-Nov-20 | 23 | Yes, if necessary |
| Jack McGlynn | 19.6 | 17-Aug-20 | 23 | Yes, if necessary |
| Quinn Sullivan | 18.8 | 12-Nov-20 | 23 | Yes, if necessary |
(Editor’s note: the Union announced a new contract for Jack McGlynn yesterday, February 7th. He is guaranteed for 23, 24 and 25, and has options for 26 and 27. He is the first current Union Player to have an option for 27.)
2023 GUARANTEED, plus subsequent option(s)
| Players
15 — 18 |
Age | Current contract announced | 2023 contract status | Re-Negotiate in 2023? |
| Julian Carranza | 22.7 | 13-Jul-22 | 23, O 24 | Unlikely |
| Jeremy Rafanello | 22.8 | 23-Aug-22 | 23, O 24, O 25 | Unlikely |
| Jesus Bueno | 23.8 | 29-Jul-21 | 23, O 24, O 25 | Unlikely |
| Anton Sorenson | 20.0 | 25-Jan-22 | 23, O 24, O 25 | Unlikely |
2023, 2024 GUARANTEED, plus subsequent option(s)
| Players
19 — 25 |
Age | Current contract announced | 2023 contract status | Re-Negotiate in 2023? |
| Jakob Glesnes | 28.9 | 8-Jan-21 | 23, 24 | No |
| Andre Blake | 32.2 | 15-Jul-21 | 23, 24, O 25 | No |
| Jack Elliott | 27.4 | 18-Jan-22 | 23, 24, O 25 | No |
| Mikael Uhre | 28.3 | 27-Jan-22 | 23, 24, O 25 | No |
| Abasa Afemeyaw | 19.5 | 4-Aug-22 | 23, 24, O 25, O 26 | No |
| Richard Odada | 22.2 | 2-Aug-22 | 23, 24, O 25, O 26 | No |
| Matt Real | 23.6 | 2-Feb-23 | 23, 24, O 25 | Done |
2023, 2024, 2025 GUARANTEED, plus subsequent option(s)
| Players
26– 27 |
Age | Current contract announced | 2023 contract status | Re-Negotiate in 2023? |
| Daniel Gazdag | 26.9 | 4-Jan-23 | 23, 24, 25, O26 | Done |
| Andres Perea | 22.2 | 6-Dec-22 | 23, 24, 25, O 26 | Done |
UNKNOWNS
| Players
28 — 29 |
Age | Current contract announced | 2023 contract status | Re-Negotiate in 2023? |
| Holden Trent | 23.6 | Drafted 21-Dec-22 | Unsigned | No |
| Stefan Stojanovic | 21.9 | Drafted 21-Dec-22 | Unsigned | No |
Errata
When he was traded to Philadelphia, Damion Lowe was beginning the second year of a two-year contract with Miami. Written sources say nothing about option years.
When he was traded to Philadelphia, Joaquin Torres was beginning the last guaranteed year of his contract with Montreal. The Montreal contract announcement mentioned club options for 2024 and 2025.
One or other of goalkeepers Holden Trent and Brooks Thompson will probably be signed because three first-team goalkeepers facilitates using the emergency extreme hardship rule for goalkeepers. Presumably, Andre Blake will be away with Jamaica in late March for Concacaf Nations League and in July for the Gold Cup. Since Thompson is likely on the option year of a Philadelphia Union II contract, simplicity says sign Trent to the first team. But it appears that the only free salary slot requires a senior roster minimum salary which last year was roughly $18 K more expensive than a reserve minimum one. (Editor’s note: Perhaps the McGlynn news is the first in a series of new roster adjustment announcements?)
Forgot perhaps the most important of contract situation of all: Jim Curtin. With all the noise about the USNT sniffing around, they need to get that one done. Not that it would necessarily prevent him from bolting, but would show some good faith?
;-)! Jim has not been playing in MLS recently and is not rostered to the team.
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That picayune detail aside, your point is cogent.
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I do think a comment he made earlier — back when he signed his current multi-year deal? — that effectively with or without the multi-year deal he is always in effect working within a one-year contract is realistic and worth keeping in mind.
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The other comment from the past to keep in mind is that Mr. Sugarman, at the time of the hiring of Ernst Tanner, while stating that the decision was up to Tanner, he, Sugarman, hope Curtin would be given due consideration, or words to that general effect.
I think this one is dependent on Jim and USSoccer.
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If USMNT does come calling I think he feels an obligation to take that step. Otherwise I think we still have him for a few more years before he looks into a euro future.
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In the same interview with The Crack Pod where he talks about the NT, he says that he is not ready to make the jump to Europe yet and still wants a few more years under his belt first. Additionally he is always talking about how MLS is going to be a top league sooner than later, and that he wants to be a big part of that. His kids are a factor in this as well.
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If he doesn’t go to the NT I expect we will see him sign for another 3-5 years.
Yes, but imagine USNT clears up the Berhalter mess and hires Marsch in May or June. And then they come after Jim in the middle of what is a very complicated season. Disaster ensues.
Personally I’m not a big fan of USNT soccer, so I don’t give a rat’s ass about their prospects in 2026. And, after the Marsch European fiasco, Jim ought to take care what he wishes for if he thinks coaching over there would be a good thing for him.
This has been coming for years with Curtin and USMNT. I question why he only wants an Asst Role. Assuming Marsch is hired…. bringing his asst with him from being redundant at Leeds…. will there be any room for Jim in any meaningful manner?
And we all know he wants the Cup as a coach. Ca,e close last year, this year we’ll host MLS Cup 2023 in Chester! Doop!
I didn’t realize we signed Perea on for 3 yrs. Tanner must rate him more than I thought.
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I love that we have the spine locked in for the next two years!!!! Obviously, I don’t expect all of them to still be around given the increasing interest, but that gives us leverage all the same.
Our own Jim O’Leary reported a three-year deal with an additional option for 2026.
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https://phillysoccerpage.net/2022/12/06/breaking-union-acquire-orlando-city-midfielder-andres-perea/
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MLS’s own story reports the same deal.
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https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/philadelphia-union-land-midfielder-andres-perea-in-trade-with-orlando-city
great stuff! glad to see concern as well for Jim. would love him to win one here before moving on though.
from top-down, US Soccer is poised for 2026. i’m excited to see if it all gels. If Jim is part of it, I couldn’t be more proud.
Timing is everything… Union just announced that Abasa Aremeyaw is no longer with the club.
True enough.
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NOt a real surprise. I’ve seen no evidence of him ever having been stateside in 2023.
What happened with Aremeyaw? Maybe signing Lowe eliminated the need? Was he even in Chester or FLA this year?
We will probably never know the details. But Jonathan T. From the Inquirer reported that Jim Curtin said Aremeyaw was dealing with a knee injury at the start of preseason and “had not been on the field yet.”