TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Roster Update
The Philadelphia Union announced their end-of-season roster moves on Wednesday, declining contract options on several big-name players.
The Union declined options on midfielders Maurice Edu, Fabian Herbers, Ilsinho and Roland Alberg, forward Charlie Davies and defenders Oguchi Onyewu, Ken Tribbet, Giliano Wijnaldum and Aaron Jones.
Longtime MLS midfielder Chris Pontius and defender Fabinho are both out of contract heading into the offseason. Pontius will be eligible for MLS free agency.
Additionally, Philadelphia announced that they picked up options for goalkeepers Andre Blake, John McCarthy and Jake McGuire, defenders Jack Elliott, Raymon Gaddis and Keegan Rosenberry and midfielders Warren Creavalle, Marcus Epps, Derrick Jones, Adam Najem and Fafa Picault.
Midfielders Alejandro Bedoya, Haris Medunjanin and Anthony Fontana, forwards CJ Sapong and Jay Simpson and defenders Richie Marquez, Auston Trusty and Josh Yaro were already on guaranteed contracts for 2018.
The Union are eligible to negotiate a new contract with any player who is out of contract or had their option declined. One player on Wednesday’s cut list has already found a new club, however, with Alberg signing a two-year deal with Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia that begins on January 1.
Philadelphia finished in eighth in the Eastern Conference in 2017, missing the playoffs for the sixth time in their eight-year existence.
