Philadelphia Union and Andre Blake agree to new deal through 2026, with an option for 2027
Andre Blake's prior deal was only guaranteed through the rest of this season, though the club held a team option for 2025.
Chester, PA — The Philadelphia Union announced on Thursday, that they have agreed to a new contract with goalkeeper Andre Blake, keeping him through the 2026 MLS season, with an option for 2027.
Blake’s prior contract was set to expire after the 2024 season, though the club held a team option for the 2025 season. Prior to Blake’s new contract, MLSPA released their Spring Salary Guide for 2024, Blake’s Guaranteed Compensation was $919,375.00, which made him the third highest paid goalkeeper in MLS, behind Orlando City’s Pedro Gallese ($1,089,333.00) and St. Louis City SC’s Roman Bürki ($1,657,469.00).
Blake, 33, was drafted first overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, becoming the first goalkeeper to be selected first. Blake leads the Union in many records which include: most MLS appearances (236), most MLS shuouts (73), most MLS minutes played (21084), MLS wins (103), most saves in an MLS season (118 in 2018) and most wins in an MLS season (14 in 2018). In addition to his Union records, his individual awards include: Three time MLS goalkeeper of the year (2016, 2020, 2022), Three time MLS Best XI (2016, 2020, 2022), Four time MLS All-Star (2016, 2019, 2020, 2022), and winning the 2022 John Wanamaker Athletic Award, presented to the athlete, team or organization which has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and the team or sport in which they excel.
“Since joining the team, Andre has been a foundational piece to the club’s achievements,” said Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner. “He has shown himself to be one of the best goalkeepers in North America, and along with his proven sporting value, has taken on a leadership role both on and off the field. His guidance will play an important role in the further development of our young players and the team’s success. We’re happy to have reached an agreement to keep him here in Philadelphia.”
Blake has been limited for appearances this season for the Union as he’s dealt with a groin, concussion and most recently a knee injury. He’s appeared in eight of the Union’s seventeen games this season, playing 575 minutes in the process.
Blake has also been capped 75 times by the Jamaican National Team, keeping 26 clean sheets. Jamaica is slotted to have two FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on June 6th against Dominican Republic and June 9th against Dominica, before heading off to participate in Copa América. Jamaica face Mexico June 22nd, Ecuador June 26th, and Venezuela June 30th. If Jamaica were to make it out of the Group and through the Knockout Stages, they would play the Final on July 14th.
“The best goalkeeper in all of MLS will continue to play here in Philadelphia where he’s won us a ton of games through the years,” said Jim Curtin Thursday at his midweek press conference. “It’s been amazing to watch Andre [Blake] grow both on the field [and] off the field as a father [and] as a player. His leadership has increased and his voice in the locker room has become so powerful. And I think he does things in such an impressive, professional, humble way, that makes me very proud. He's along with Ale [Bedoya], and Jakob [Glesnes] this year, the voice in the locker room for me when I'm not around the guy's. An exemplary player who I think represents the badge as well as anybody has in the history of our club. And I think oftentimes, the goalkeeper position for whatever reason continues to be very, very undervalued, in not only MLS, but in the world. I say it all the time to you guys it’s worth 12 to 15 points a year.”