Union stay busy with multiple moves during the bye week
Matt Real loaned to USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Jon Scheer promoted to Director of Academy And Professional Development and Philadelphia Union acquire GAM from Nashville.
Chester, PA — Who said bye weeks have to be boring? Despite there being no Union games in the last week, that didn’t stop the Union from making moves. The Union stayed busy in terms of loaning out a player, trading away International Roster Slots for GAM and hiring from within to hire a new Director of Academy And Professional Development.
Matt Real Loaned To USL Championship Side Colorado Springs Switchbacks
On April 18th, the Union announced that they have loaned left back Matt Real to Colorado Springs Switchbacks of the USL Championship through the 2024 season. Real’s last Union appearance came on October, 4th, 2023 against Atlanta United, playing 7 minutes in the Union’s 3-2 win at Subaru Park. He signed a contract as a Homegrown with the Union in 2018 after spending time with Bethlehem Steel FC in the USL. Over six seasons Real made 62 appearances, with his debut on March 31 against Colorado Rapids. During that time, he would score two goals and register three assists. On February 2nd, 2023 he signed a new contract with the Union through the 2024 season, with a club option for 2025.
Matt Real will now get the chance at some much needed playing time, and he’ll reunite with some familiar faces while out in Colorado. The Switchbacks are managed by former Bethlehem Steel captain James Chambers (2016-2019), who is in his first season managing the club. Matt Mahoney (2017-2018) and Zach Zandi (2019-2020) were both teammates with Real during their Bethlehem Steel/Philadelphia Union II days. The Switchbacks have had numerous Philadelphia Union/Bethlehem Steel/Philadelphia Union II players play for them in the past as well, including: Chandler Hoffman (2012), Michee Ngalina (2018-2020), Zach Pfeffer (2011-2015), Issa Rayyan (2017-2020), and Aaron Wheeler (2013-2014).
Currently, the Switchbacks sit in last place in the Western Conference with a record of 0-5-1, scoring two goals, while conceding ten. Their most recent game came on April 20th against Indy Eleven, where the Switchbacks earned their first point of the season in the 1-1 draw. Matt Real played the full 90 minutes at left back.
Jon Scheer Promoted To Director of Academy And Professional Development
Also announced on April 18th, the Union announced that they have promoted Jon Scheer to Director of Academy And Professional Development, replacing longtime Academy Director Tommy Wilson, who was hired by Charlotte FC on January 24, 2024 as their new Technical Director. Scheer was previously the Union’s Director of Scouting, a role that he held since August of 2021. He first joined the Union Academy as the Director of Talent Identification in March 2018 where he led the club’s scouting efforts that helped identify many of the top Union Academy talents. Scheer’s new position will oversee the Union’s entire player development pathway. In addition to overseeing the team, staff, and players from the Union Junior Academy through Union II, he will focus on maintaining and enhancing the unified approach to implementing the club’s methodology and player development strategy.
“Jon’s pathway from the academy to the professional side speaks volumes not only to his wide-ranging capabilities on the sporting side, but also the effectiveness of his leadership,” said Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner. “He adopted our style of play and philosophy at the earlier stages and his implementation of our principles will be vital in keeping the consistency that is needed with our youth development.”
Philadelphia Union Acquire $350,000 In GAM From Nashville SC
On April 22nd, the Union announced that the club has acquired a guaranteed $350,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM) from Nashville SC. In exchange, the Union have traded one 2024 international roster slot and one 2025 international roster slot. Each team begins the season with eight international roster slots and they have the option to trade for more slots or trade away slots like the Union did in this situation. According to the MLS Roster Rules, “Any Player who obtains U.S. permanent residency while employed by MLS will be considered a domestic Player for the applicable Season if such residency is established or the Player has appeared for an immigrant visa interview by the opening of the Secondary Transfer Window.” Currently, the Union have four players taking up International Roster Slots: Tai Baribo, Jesús Bueno, Olwethu Makhanya, and Olivier Semmle. While, Joaquin Torres and Richard Odada both take up International Roster Slots, both players are out on loan meaning the club receives roster relief but not Salary Budget relief unless otherwise determined by the loan agreement.