Photo Ben Ross

A second Philadelphia Union roster move became public Thursday, January 11 that attracted less attention than the earlier news about Kai Wagner.

Union homegrown striker Nelson Pierre, 18.8-years old, was loaned away to Swedish second division side Skovde AIK for the 2024 season. Since the announcement did not mention a purchase option, we assume that there isn’t one. We expect Pierre to return for 2025 as his contract with Philadelphia is guaranteed for 2025 with an option for 2026.

It may be that Pierre has not yet shown himself ready to contribute to the first team beyond being a squad player for practice. That inference is grounded in his later 2023 game performances in which he seemed to have plateaued. In addition to not scoring or assisting much, he needed further “engine building.”

A few potential reasons for the loan away to Sweden jump out. The first involves roster mechanics. The next two are mental. Another is physical. And another may involve some sibling dynamics.

• As the first team gathers to head out for phase one of preseason in Clearwater next week, it was going to have 32 players on its roster – one more than the league’s maximum limit of 31. A season-long loan eliminates the problem, so the loan may be as simple as roster management.
• Loaning Jose Riasco last fall into Uruguay’s first division at Boston River improved him enough to make him a candidate for signing by the Union itself.  One and a half seasons in MLS NEXT Pro had not done that for the Venezuelan. Perhaps there is hope for a similarly successful stimulus to the young man from central Pennsylvania.
• Having a player leave the familiar organization through whose academy he has climbed for several years can also be a stimulus, one of difference. Cole Turner, then of Philadelphia Union II, was loaned away for a few months to El Paso Locomotive of USL Championship at the end of 2021.  Turner subsequently commented on how much being on his own in a new place had taught him. Once, back in his academy days when Pierre was in a scoring slump, he was moved to center back as a new, different stimulus. Going to Sweden for a year will be new, different, and require new life skills, not the least of which will be the Swedish language.
• Pierre’s “engine building” as Earnie Stewart used to call it needs further work and perhaps the Swedish club can provide the minutes necessary. By the end of last season, he was not getting enough minutes in MLS Next Pro, probably because reliable offensive production was sparse. And now, Sal Olivas will need his own chances.
• The loan could also perhaps involve older brother-younger brother dynamics in some way. Center back and younger brother Neil Pierre turned professional with Union II last summer and will be evaluated for a possible future with the Union itself. We need to respect a family’s privacy and restrain further speculation. The older brother might need an opportunity to succeed in his own right separately and away from the emerging success of the younger.   Siblings can sometimes be complicated.

We have no idea why the loan is to this specific club in this specific league. Perhaps there is an Ernst Tanner connection to a “striker whispering” coach who needs a young, good athlete to absorb minutes.