Philadelphia Union Secure Young Talent: Neil Pierre Signs Homegrown Deal Through 2028

17-year-old center back becomes the 26th Homegrown signing in club history.

(Credit: Philadelphia Union II)

Chester, Pa. — The Philadelphia Union have announced the signing of center back Neil Pierre to a Homegrown contract through 2028, with an option for 2029, making him the 26th Homegrown player in club history.

Pierre, 17, signed an MLS Next Pro contract in 2023 with Union II, becoming the third academy player to do so at that time. He made his debut on July 23, 2023, against Columbus Crew in a 6-2 Union II victory. He went on to play seven games (three starts), scoring two goals in 410 minutes.

The 2024 season proved to be a breakout year for Pierre with Union II. He appeared in 26 games (24 starts), helping anchor a defense that recorded six clean sheets in matches he played, totaling 2,307 minutes.

“Following a standout season with Union II, we are happy to be able to reward Neil with a first team contract,” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner. “His combination of size, speed, and defensive strength makes him a great asset to our backline. As a young, dynamic center back with immense potential, we look forward to continuing and supporting his development.”

Listed at 6'5" and 176 lbs, the Lebanon, Pa., native originally played as a striker before transitioning to center back. He joined the Union academy at the age of 12 and continued to impress the organization as he progressed through the ranks. One of the most underrated aspects of Pierre’s game is his passing range, as he completed 73.7% of his passes last season with Union II. In Union II’s first three playoff games leading up to the MLS Next Pro Final, he helped the defense concede only one goal and allow just three shots on target—the fewest in the playoffs. Pierre’s passing, physicality, and speed were all on display during the postseason, consistently making him one of the best players on the field.

Pierre has been an instrumental player for the U.S. Youth National Team at various levels (U15, U16, U18, and U19), with his most recent call-up coming in November with the U19s.

14 Player’s Now Signed Through 2026

One trend in the Union's recent signings and contract extensions has been securing players on long-term deals. Jeremy Rafanello signed his most recent contract in October, extending through 2026 with club options through 2028. Quinn Sullivan also signed a contract extension in October, committing through 2027 with a club option for 2028. Sullivan’s deal was also converted into a U22 Initiative contract, reducing his cap hit for salary purposes. Most recently, Olivier Mbaizo signed through 2026, with club options through 2028. With Pierre’s signing, he becomes the 14th player under contract through at least 2026 and the fourth player signed through 2028.

Time and time again, Ernst Tanner has rewarded players with long-term deals for their performances, often accompanied by a pay increase. While the exact figures of these new contracts won’t be available until the MLSPA releases salary information in the spring, these longer-term deals also serve to increase a player’s transfer value. For example, if another club seeks to sign Pierre next season, they would have to pay a significant transfer fee not only because of his talent and potential but also due to the length of his contract. A similar case occurred with Virgil van Dijk at Southampton, where he signed a contract extension in May 2016 and was subsequently sold to Liverpool for a reported fee of £75 million in January 2017. There are numerous examples of this strategy across soccer, demonstrating that while the Union reward their players for hard work, securing long-term contracts also strengthens their financial position.

Players Signed Through 2026:

• Markus Anderson — Options through 2028

• Andre Blake — Option through 2027

• Jesús Bueno — Option through 2027

• Danley Jean Jacques — Options through 2028

• Olivier Mbaizo — Options through 2028

• CJ Olney — Option through 2029

• Neil Pierre — Option through 2029

• Nelson Pierre — Option through 2027

• Jeremy Rafanello — Options through 2028

• Andrew Rick — Option through 2029

• Cavan Sullivan — Contract through 2028

• Quinn Sullivan — Option through 2028

• Kai Wagner — Option through 2027

Video Credit: MLS Next Pro