Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union fortified their attacking group on Wednesday morning, signing striker Tai Baribo from Wolfsberger AC in the Austrian Bundesliga.
Baribo, 25, signed a contract through the 2025 season, with a club option for 2026.
“In just two years playing in the Austrian Bundesliga, Tai has proven himself to be an incredibly dangerous and productive striker,” Union sporting director Ernst Tanner said in a press release.
Baribo scored 27 goals in 61 matches for Wolfsberger, including a team-high 16 goals last season.
Baribo is also an Israeli international, with three goals in his 11 caps for the national team.
“We are continuously looking to add to the quality of our roster, and having one of the top scorers in the Austrian league join us will help build on the success of this team,” Tanner added.
The signing fills the hole left by the offseason exit of Cory Burke — a third striker to compete with starters Julian Carranza and Mikael Uhre. Manager Jim Curtin has used Homegrown Quinn Sullivan in that role for most of the season; although he’s shown flashes, Sullivan is not a natural striker.
Adding Baribo also offers the Union cover should Carranza leave for Europe or if either of the starters picks up an injury.
Baribo occupies an international roster spot, but is not a Designated Player. He will wear number 28 for the Union.
The Boys in Blue are back in action tomorrow in the Leagues Cup, when they’ll host D.C. United in a Round of 32 knockout match. Kickoff from Subaru Park is at 8 p.m.
Welcome, Tai!
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This seems to be a smart signing. I’m tempering my near-term on-pitch expectations knowing it can take time to settle into a new everything (country, culture, home, relationships, manager, teammates, system, food, fans, etc.).
I appreciate his comments in a video released by the club. Yes, he emphasized scoring goals, but also liking to work hard—that it creates chances—including press high, but also dropping deep for touches before going to goal.
I hope he gets quality minutes.
It sounds good except it won’t provide coverage for the Union’s biggest weakness…players who are missing during international breaks. (Of course, that wouldn’t be a weakness anywhere but MLS.)
The Union Itself has no games scheduled during the September international break, the next one 4-Sep to 12-Sep. Union II however has one on 6-Sep.
That’s true as of now. But it wouldn’t surprise me if the Dallas game gets moved to that weekend if either team makes the semis in the leagues cup.
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And just because they have September off from being affected by International duty doesn’t excuse the league for scheduling the two Orlando games when they did.
Coming from a league better then MLS. Contributing a goal or assist every other game. Pretty Solid signing from what I can see. Who will he be paired with ?
Worth mentioning that during Cory Burke’s visa snafu he played for several months in the Austrian Bundesliga, with St. Polten.
Other than RB Salzburg, the Austrian league is not all that great. Only 3 of 12 teams have transfermarkt squad valuations greater than the lowest MLS club (Montreal, 28mil euros.) My thought is Baribo will become the 3rd striker Santos/Burke role.
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Now they have to re-sign Wagner so we can have the Kai to Tai combination.
This should be a priority on many levels. But mostly tonjust satisfy the linguistic front.
excellent use of gam and tam from in season loan deals. Ern$t strikes again.