Philadelphia Union 2022 Season Preview

Tom Bogert

2022 Schedule

Strength: Consistent winners and talent developers with a robust next-man-up ethos that makes them impossible to grind down.
Weakness: Not enough goalscoring to get over the hump. Maybe that was addressed with two new DP additions this winter, but there are no guarantees.

Kacper Przybylko: In part of the attack shakeup, leading scorer Kacper Przybylko was traded to Chicago Fire FC for $1.15 million GAM. Looking for a new, long-term contract, Przybylko wanted the Union to accept the offer and both parties look fondly back upon his time at Subaru Park. Przybylko was signed as an unheralded free agent from the German lower divisions and was the leading center forward for Philadelphia’s best-ever three-year stretch.
Jamiro Monteiro: Another key player of the last few years, Jamiro Monteiro also departed Philly in a trade. The DP midfielder joined the San Jose Earthquakes for $250k GAM, an international roster spot and a further $200k GAM incentives. He was previously their club-record signing ($2 million from FC Metz after his successful loan). Though Monteiro was successful on the field, it wasn’t always roses off the field. Both parties looked for a transfer last summer, yet nothing materialized.

Mikael Uhre: Philadelphia’s new club-record signing, Mikael Uhre comes to the Union following the best stint of his career. The late-blooming center forward was named Player of the Year in Denmark while winning the league with Brondby, as well as the Golden Boot. That led to his debut with the Danish national team, too. A long-term target for Philly, Uhre was previously a teammate with Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar.
Julian Carranza: Another center forward? Another DP? Yep. Carranza was with Inter Miami CF the last two seasons, an imperfect fit as he hardly ever played through the center after arriving from Argentina's Banfield for a reported $6 million. Still young at 21 years old, Carranza was a key buy-low deal for the Union, arriving on loan with a purchase option.
Full roster