“Not too many weeks ago, I was sitting here telling you about the overhaul of the roster, and that’s what we have pretty much completed.” – Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner
And he’s not wrong. In a few months, Ernst Tanner has brought in Union’s new Head Coach, moved on a number of players who no longer fit their needs, and added young, promising (though mostly unproven) pieces at each positional group outside of Goalkeeper—all of which better fits Ernst Tanner’s preferred system and is exactly what he outlined in the press conference following Jim Curtin’s departure last November.
But the question remains – was it enough to make a difference?
Union Squad Departures
| Player | Pros | Cons | Grade |
| Jack McGlynn – Sold to Houston Dynamo for $2.1M+ Incentives | – Moves on from player who doesn’t fit system – gives player a better fit for development – brings in $$$ | -Homegrown Leaves club – Stays in MLS -Guaranteed fee feels low for player of his quality -NYCFC and NYRB get a big percentage of the Sell-On fee | B |
| Jack Elliott – Option Declined, Signed by Chicago Fire | -Gets $893,750.00 guaranteed compensation off books -Allows Union to bring in younger CB | -No financial return for Elliott -Makes Union thin at CB position | D |
| Leon Flach – Out of Contract, signed with Jagiellonia Bialystok | -Honors player’s wish of wanting to return to Europe to be with family -Allows Ernst Tanner to bring in a fresh midfielder that better fits system | -No financial return for Flach -Leaves Union thin at midfield | D |
| Sam Adeniran – Out of Contract, signed by LASK | -Moves on a player that didn’t work out in Philadelphia -Opens spot for eventual Bruno Damiani signing | -No Financial return | C+ |
| Jamir Berdecio – End of Loan | -Moves on a player that didn’t work out in Philadelphia | -None | B- |
| Brandan Craig – Option Declined, signed by CF Montreal | -Moves on a player that didn’t work out in Philadelphia -Gives player an opportunity at a new start | -Homegrown left club -No financial return | C |
| Matt Real – Option Declined, signed by Colorado Switchbacks | -Moves on player that didn’t work out in Philadelphia -Gives player an opportunity at a new start | -Homegrown left club -No financial return | C |
| Joaquin Torres – Option Declined | -Moves on player that didn’t work out in Philadelphia -Gets $349,800.00 in guaranteed compensation off the books | -No financial return | C+ |
Average Grade of Departures: C
Union Squad Additions
| Player | Pros | Cons | Grade |
| Bruno Damiani – Signed from Nacional for $3.4M | -Brings in 3rd starting-caliber option at FWD, -Record-signing transfer -Fits Tanner’s system -Only 22yo | -Promising, but a bit unproven as main-man long-term | B+ |
| Ian Glavinovich – On loan from Newell’s Old Boys, $2.5M purchase option | -Brings in young, fresh replacement for Elliott -On Loan for 2025 season -Fits Tanner’s system -Only 23yo | -Relatively unproven -Purchase option is high by Union’s standards -Lots of pressure to step right into Starting XI | B- |
| Jovan Lukić – signed from FK Spartak Subotica for $622K | -Brings in young, fresh replacement in midfield -“Low-risk, high-reward” signing -Fits Tanner’s system -Only 23yo | -Relatively unproven -Lots of pressure to step right into Starting XI | C+ |
| Ale Bedoya – Re-Signed | -Keeps veteran leadership in locker room -Buys some “good faith” with Union fans -Player Development and Front Office Specialist position in future | -Aging at 37 years old | B- |
| Frankie Westfield – Homegrown Contract | -Promotes promising UII player | -Unproven at MLS level | C |
| Eddy Davis III – Homegrown Contract | -Promotes promising UII player | -Unproven at MLS level | C |
| Neil Pierre – Homegrown Contract | -Promotes promising UII player -Keeps player with European interest in Philadelphia | -Unproven ar MLS level | C+ |
Average Grade of Arrivals: C+
Off-Season Recap
Overall, I think Ernst Tanner has done pretty well reshaping the squad for this off-season. It’s nowhere near the perfect window, but I do think he’s done enough to give fans a small bit of excitement heading into 2025. If it goes right, it might give them hope that their team will be back on track with another transfer window or two.
But after looking at the updated depth chart for the season, I do think Union is still a bit thin at both the CB and CAM positions. Asking Glavinovich to step right into the starting XI is a big task as is, but relying on Olwethu Makhanya or Neil Pierre as the 3rd CB option to start the season gives me worries, as does having no proven backup to Daniel Gazdag at the #10 position.
Ernst Tanner might not be finished just yet
Although in a perfect world, you’d like to add new players during pre-season, the MLS Transfer Window remains open until April 23rd, and Ernst Tanner might not be done adding to this team just yet, depending on what they can make work financially.
“Maybe there is something to do in addition, but we need to see what we can get and also what fits in the budget because at this moment it is getting tighter and tighter.” – Ernst Tanner
