The snow still hasn’t melted here in Philadelphia but the Philadelphia Union are back in warmer weather in Clearwater for their second leg of preseason and prepping for a preseason friendly against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday morning. The roster is filling out with the addition of center back Geiner Martinez and another attacking piece close to being finalized but left back remains a question mark with the season set to kick off in Trinidad & Tobago on Feb. 18.

In the email today:

1. 🏝️ Union to Face Tampa Bay on Saturday

Three preseason games down two to go, starting with a match-up against Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday evening.

The match will be streamed, too, giving fans a formal look at the squad as the prep for their Champions Cup opener in Trinidad & Tobago on February 18.

The Union and the Rowdies have had a number of connections over the years, including Rowdies legend Leo Fernandes and many others but one of their latest additions to the squad is one who is no stranger to the Union or the back of the net. Delran, N.J. native MD Myers joined the Rowdies in the offseason from Charleston Battery. The Philadelphia Union Academy grad has scored goals in bunches every stop he’s made since graduating the academy, from High Point and Rutgers to Ocean City Nor’easters, NYCFC II and Charleston.

Fellow Union Academy grad Jahmali Waite also joined the Rowdies in the offseason and will have a chance to face fellow Reggae Boy Andre Blake. Waite joined the Rowdies after two seasons in El Paso.

The match is slated for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

2. 🇨🇴 Union Announce Signing of Geiner Martinez

The Philadelphia Union back line has added another important piece with the signing of 23-year-old Colombian center back Geiner Martinez.

Martinez comes to the Union via CA Juventud in the Uruguayan top flight. Though the fee wasn’t disclosed in the announcement it’s believed to be just under $1 million. The Union signed him through the 2027-28 season with two additional club option years.

“Geiner is a young, strong player who brings intensity and a physical presence to our backline,” Philadelphia Union Head Coach Bradley Carnell said in a news release. “The experience he’s gained through earning promotion in two consecutive seasons is valuable, he is a competitor and dedicated to defending within our identity. We look forward to getting him integrated quickly with the team.”

The 6-foot-3 Martinez gives Carnell four center backs on the first team roster with returning starter Olwethu Makhanya and fellow newcomers Japhet Sery Larsen and Finn Sundstrom. He will occupy an international roster spot.

3.💧Water Cooler: Preseason Outlook Results

How are you feeling about the Union?

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Good but we need a left back (5)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Cautiously optimistic (9)
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ High on the new additions but worried about depth (7)
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ They exceeded expectations last year, why not again? (2)
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Ask me again in a month (8)
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Not great (7)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Other (0)
38 Votes

via @beehiiv polls

4. 🗺️ Social Post of the Day: Depth Chart

4. 🔗 Link Roundup

• Catch up on former Philadelphia Union players playing abroad in the latest DOOPing Overseas.

• Philadelphia Union II striker Malik Jakupovic had a brace off the bench in an 8-0 blowout for the U.S. U-17s in World Cup qualifying last night.

• The Snow Bowl international academy event kicks off Monday at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex.

• The Sportsplex will play host again to the final of the Philly Soccer Spring Cup in April. This year’s edition has eight teams with Lehigh and Lafayette joining the fray.

• Keep track of summer team roster announcements with the Philadelphia Soccer Now Summer Roster Tracker.

• Keep track of local college soccer signings and transfers with the Philadelphia Soccer Now College Signing Tracker.

• Keep track of local offseason local player movement with the Philadelphia Soccer Now Offseason Transfer Tracker.

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