We’ve made it to Friday and there’s a lot of news to unpack both from the Philadelphia Union and around MLS.

In the email today:

1. 🇩🇪 Wagner Re-Signing Announced

Philadelphia Union star left back Kai Wagner’s return to the club was made official on Thursday.

The 26-year-old inked a three-year contract that keeps him with the club through 2026 with an option for 2027. The Thursday morning announcement ends an ongoing saga between the talented German and a club he seemed destined to be departing when the season ended.

“Kai has proven himself year after year as one of the best left backs in the league, and an integral part of our team success,” Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner stated in a news release. “With his consistent defending and aggressive attacking style of play, he has greatly contributed to the new milestones the team has achieved every year, and we have full confidence his continued dedication and passion for this club will continue help us reach new heights. We’re looking forward to having Kai in Philadelphia for years to come.”

Wagner returns as the club’s second all-time assist leader and was arguably the team’s most consistent defender across the back line in a season where the team fell short of expectations to make it back to the MLS Cup final. Wagner ended the season sitting out two games of a three-game suspension and will miss the league opener at home against Chicago Fire on February 24. The three-game suspension followed an incident he promptly admitted to where he used a racial slur in German in an argument with New England Revolution forward Bobby Wood.

“I’ve been here for almost five years now and continue to grow professionally and personally,” Wagner stated in the news release. “I feel highly valued here and have a great bond with the club. My family and I also feel extremely at home here. Despite other exciting options in Europe, I decided to extend my contract with the Philadelphia Union because in the end my heart also played a part in my decision.”

Wagner has spoken publicly in the past about his desire to return to Europe and transfer rumors have been a mainstay during the last few transfer windows. The most recent reports cited interest from AEK Athens, Red Star Belgrade and Rangers FC.

2. 🐍 Nelson Pierre Heads to Sweden

Amidst the news about Kai Wagner, Philadelphia Union announced the loan of 18-year-old Forward Nelson Pierre to Sweden on Thursday. Pierre, who is yet to feature for the first team, will join Skövde AIK in the Superettan, Sweden’s Second Division. The loan runs through 2024.

Pierre, who signed a homegrown contract last year, played 28 times for Philadelphia Union II in 2023, tallying just four goals and four assists. Nelson’s younger brother, Niel Pierre, is also with the Union’s second team.

Pierre has long been discussed as a premier attacking talent in the Union’s system but struggled in the 2023 MLS Next Pro Campaign. The Lebanon, Pa. native has shown immense athletic ability but has struggled to find goals, leading to reduced minutes. Pierre started just three times for Union II since July 25 and has failed to play a full 90 minutes since late May.

Looking at the striker position for Philadelphia, Pierre would have been very unlikely to see the field in 2024. With Chris Donovan’s recent contract extension, Julian Carranza reportedly staying through July, and newcomer Tai Baribo now in the mix, minutes up top are simply not available to Pierre at this time. Pierre joins Richard Odada as the two Philadelphia Union players currently on loan, as Brandan Craig and Andres Perea’s loans expired at the end of 2023.

-Evan Cohen

3. 👔 Tweet of the Day: Union Fans

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Wagner News

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• Sporting Kansas City fans are responding to the surprising and controversial news that Gavin Wilkinson, who was named in the Yates report, as Sporting Director.

• Drexel men’s soccer named a new head coach and it’s someone who is no stranger to Philadelphia soccer both as a player and a coach. Former Drexel assistant and Chestnut Hill College head coach David Castellanos, who has been active as a coach and boys academy director at Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals, is the eighth head coach to lead the program.

• Hershey native and former PA Classics player Christian Pulisic has been named Serie A player of the month for December. What a difference a change in scenery has made for the USMNT captain.

• Williamstown, N.J. native Brittany Ratcliffe has signed a three-year contract with Washington Spirit.

• Former Union winger Fafa Picault has found a new home in Vancouver.

• Former Union II goalkeeper Brooks Thompson is joining former Steel FC/Union II head coach Brendan Burke in Hartford.

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