Philadelphia Union Sign Forward Eddy Davis III to Homegrown Contract Through 2027
18-year-old striker rewarded with Homegrown deal after standout MLS Next Pro season.
Chester, Pa. — The Philadelphia Union have announced the signing of forward Eddy Davis III to a Homegrown contract through 2027, with options for 2028 and 2029, making him the 28th Homegrown player in club history.
Davis, 18, enjoyed a breakout season last year in his second season with Philadelphia Union II, appearing in 31 games (26 starts), scoring a club-high 14 goals, and recording four assists in 2,058 minutes.
Davis finished as the fourth-highest goal scorer during the MLS Next Pro regular season, scoring 13 goals—five behind Chicago Fire II’s David Poreba, who led the league with 18. Davis also earned MLS Next Pro’s Rising Star of the Month honors three times last season for his strong performances (March, April, and September).
“Eddy took a big step in his growth and development last year, proving himself to be a relentless striker,” said Philadelphia Union Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner. “His ability to read the game and create scoring opportunities makes him a valuable asset. He has the mentality and passion we look for in young players and is a prime example of the strong talent we continue to foster in our system.”
Originally from Los Angeles, Davis played for LAFC’s academy at the age of 12 before moving to the New York Red Bulls academy and then joining the Union’s academy in 2022. Unlike most of his teammates last season, the young forward played as an amateur, meaning he competed without a contract—a risky move that appears to have paid off with his new Homegrown deal. Remaining an amateur allowed Davis to trial with teams in Europe, including Lyngby and Schalke, to explore potential opportunities abroad.
With Davis now signed, the Union’s roster stands at 29 players, just one short of the league’s 30-player maximum. The team currently has six forwards on its active roster: Markus Anderson, Tai Baribo, Chris Donovan, Eddy Davis, Nelson Pierre, and Mikael Uhre. Among them, only Baribo and Uhre have proven themselves in MLS. Uhre has appeared in 90 games, scoring 32 goals and providing 18 assists in 5,810 minutes since arriving in 2022. Baribo, meanwhile, had to wait until Julián Carranza was sold in the summer of 2024 to get his chance in MLS. Since joining in the summer of 2023, he has played in 25 MLS matches (17 starts), scoring nine goals and assisting two in 1,563 minutes.
Overall, in his short career with Union II, Davis has appeared in 35 games (27 starts), scoring 14 goals and providing four assists in 2,182 minutes.
III !!!