# 2021 Philadelphia Union season

The 2021 Philadelphia Union season was the club's twelfth season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team is managed by Jim Curtin, his eighth season with the club. The club's regular season began on April 7, 2021, with the CONCACAF Champions League, and then on April 17, 2021, with MLS play, and ended on November 7, 2021, a month-delayed start due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Outside of MLS, the Union, by winning the 2020 Supporters' Shield, is competing in their first ever CONCACAF Champions League.

## Background

The 2021 preseason saw turnover in the coaching positions as assistant coach Oka Nikolov departed and replaced by Frank Leicht.
The transfer window was the Union's most lucrative to date selling two MLS Best XI players. Brendan Aaronson was officially transferred to Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga for a reported fee of $6 million, with a potential $3 million more in performance bonuses; the highest ever transfer fee for a U.S.-based homegrown player. In January, Mark McKenzie was transferred to K.R.C. Genk for a reported fee of $6 million, plus additional performance-based bonuses.
Prior to the start of the season, long-time defender, Raymon Gaddis, announced his retirement from professional soccer. The full-back spent his entire professional career with the Union, holding record in games played (221) and minutes played (18,702).
The Union traded away or passed on all picks for the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, being the third consecutive season doing so. Supplementing young players via the Union's academy, five academy players were signed to the senior team: defender Nathan Harriel, midfielder Jack McGlynn, midfielder Paxten Aaronson, defender Brandan Craig, and midfielder/forward Quinn Sullivan.
Rounding out the first team acquisitions included centerback, Stuart Findlay, from Kilmarnock FC and midfielder, Leon Flach, from FC St. Pauli.

## 2021 roster

    As of September 25, 2021
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | USA | Matt Freese (HGP) |
| 2 | DF | USA | Matthew Real (HGP) |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Jack Elliott |
| 4 | DF | SCO | Stuart Findlay |
| 5 | DF | NOR | Jakob Glesnes |
| 6 | MF | HUN | Daniel Gazdag |
| 7 | FW | BRA | Matheus Davó (on loan from Corinthians) |
| 8 | MF | VEN | José Martínez |
| 10 | MF | CPV | Jamiro Monteiro (DP) |
| 11 | MF | USA | Alejandro Bedoya (Captain) |
| 12 | GK | USA | Joe Bendik |
| 13 | MF | USA | Cole Turner (HGP) |
| 15 | DF | CMR | Olivier Mbaizo |
| 16 | MF | USA | Jack McGlynn (HGP) |
| 17 | FW | BRA | Sergio Santos |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | GK | JAM | Andre Blake (GA) |
| 19 | FW | JAM | Cory Burke |
| 20 | MF | VEN | Jesús Bueno |
| 21 | MF | USA | Anthony Fontana (HGP) |
| 23 | FW | POL | Kacper Przybyłko |
| 25 | MF | BRA | Ilsinho |
| 26 | DF | USA | Nathan Harriel (HGP) |
| 27 | DF | GER | Kai Wagner |
| 29 | DF | JAM | Alvas Powell |
| 30 | MF | USA | Paxten Aaronson (HGP) |
| 31 | MF | USA | Leon Flach |
| 33 | MF | USA | Quinn Sullivan (HGP) |
| 34 | MF | USA | Brandan Craig (HGP) |
| 78 | DF | FRA | Aurelien Collin |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | MF | USA | Jack de Vries (on loan with Venezia F.C.) |
| 24 | MF | SVK | Matej Oravec (on loan with FK Železiarne Podbrezová) |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | No. | Pos. | Player | Transferred from | Fee/notes |
| January 1, 2021 | 26 | DF | Nathan Harriel | Philadelphia Union II | Homegrown signing |
| January 1, 2021 | 16 | MF | Jack McGlynn | Philadelphia Union II | Homegrown signing |
| January 1, 2021 | 30 | MF | Paxten Aaronson | Philadelphia Union II | Homegrown signing |
| January 1, 2021 | 34 | MF | Brandan Craig | Philadelphia Union II | Homegrown signing |
| January 1, 2021 | 33 | MF | Quinn Sullivan | Philadelphia Union II | Homegrown signing |
| February 25, 2021 | 4 | DF | Stuart Findlay | Kilmarnock | Undisclosed fee |
| March 31, 2021 | 31 | MF | Leon Flach | St. Pauli | Undisclosed fee |
| April 2, 2021 | 22 | GK | Greg Ranjitsingh | Minnesota United FC | Free Transfer |
| May 11, 2021 | 6 | MF | Daniel Gazdag | Budapest Honvéd FC | Undisclosed fee |
| June 10, 2021 | 29 | DF | Alvas Powell | Al-Hilal Club | Free agent |
| July 29, 2021 | 20 | MF | Jesús Bueno | Deportivo Lara | Undisclosed fee |

### Out

| Date | No. | Pos. | Player | Transferred to | Fee/notes |
| December 2, 2020 | 2 | MF | Warren Creavalle | | Declined Contract Option |
| December 2, 2020 | 7 | FW | Andrew Wooten | Admira | Declined Contract Option |
| December 2, 2020 | 20 | FW | Michee Ngalina | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | Declined Contract Option |
| January 1, 2021 | 22 | MF | Brenden Aaronson | Red Bull Salzburg | $6,000,000 - $9,000,000 |
| January 7, 2021 | 4 | DF | Mark McKenzie | Genk | $6,000,000 |
| March 4, 2021 | 28 | DF | Ray Gaddis | | Player Retirement |
| August 2021 | 22 | GK | Greg Ranjitsingh | MLS Pool | Released |

### Loan In

| Date | No. | Pos. | Player | Loaned from | Fee/notes | Source |
| August 11, 2021 | 7 | FW | Matheus Davó | Corinthians | Loan with option to purchase | |

### Loan Out

| Date | No. | Pos. | Player | Transferred to | Fee/notes |
| April 21, 2021 | 24 | MF | Matej Oravec | Philadelphia Union II | Loaned Out |
| July 13, 2021 | 24 | MF | Matej Oravec | FK Železiarne Podbrezová | Loaned Out |
| August 31, 2021 | 14 | MF | Jack de Vries | Venezia F.C. | Loaned Out |

## Competitions
### Major League Soccer
#### Standings
##### Eastern Conference

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | New England Revolution | 34 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 65 | 41 | +24 | 73 | Qualification for the playoffs conference semifinals and CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 48 | 35 | +13 | 54 | Qualification for the playoffs first round |
| 3 | Nashville SC | 34 | 12 | 4 | 18 | 55 | 33 | +22 | 54 | Qualification for the playoffs first round |
| 4 | New York City FC (C) | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 56 | 36 | +20 | 51 | Qualification for the playoffs first round and CONCACAF Champions League |
| 5 | Atlanta United FC | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 45 | 37 | +8 | 51 | Qualification for the playoffs first round |
* ↑ As MLS Cup 2021 champions

##### Overall table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 4 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 58 | 40 | +18 | 58 | |
| 5 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 55 | |
| 6 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 48 | 35 | +13 | 54 | |
| 7 | Nashville SC | 34 | 12 | 4 | 18 | 55 | 33 | +22 | 54 | |
| 8 | New York City FC (C) | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 56 | 36 | +20 | 51 | Qualification for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League |
* ↑ As MLS Cup 2021 champions (USA1)

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| Pld | Pts | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
| 34 | 54 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 48 | 35 | +13 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 10 | +15 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 25 | −2 |
Source: Philadelphia Union Schedule Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Stadium | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | D | L | L | W | D | W | W | W | D | W | D | L | D | W | L | D | D | W | L | W | D | L | L | W | W | D | W | W | D | L | W | D | W | D |

#### Results
##### MLS Cup Playoffs
### U.S. Open Cup

On April 16, 2021, the U.S. Soccer Open Cup Committee announced that the planned 16-team 2021 U.S. Open Cup would no longer be held in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee will re-evaluate the possibility of conducting the tournament in some fashion later in the year.

### CONCACAF Champions League
#### Semi-finals
## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

    Last updated December 19, 2021
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | MLS | MLS | Champions League | Champions League | MLS Cup Playoffs | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | USA | Matt Freese | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | GK | USA | Joe Bendik | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | GK | JAM | Andre Blake | 36 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | GK | TRI | Greg Ranjitsingh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | USA | Matthew Real | 11 | 0 | 1+7 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Jack Elliott | 41 | 2 | 33 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | SCO | Stuart Findlay | 13 | 0 | 4+7 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | NOR | Jakob Glesnes | 42 | 4 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 7 | FW | BRA | Matheus Davó | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | CMR | Olivier Mbaizo | 37 | 0 | 28+2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | USA | Nathan Harriel | 8 | 0 | 2+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | GER | Kai Wagner | 41 | 3 | 31+2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | JAM | Alvas Powell | 8 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 78 | DF | FRA | Aurélien Collin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | HUN | Daniel Gazdag | 28 | 5 | 17+6 | 4 | 1+1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | VEN | José Martínez | 32 | 0 | 23+1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | CPV | Jamiro Monteiro | 34 | 4 | 26+1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | USA | Alejandro Bedoya | 40 | 3 | 30+2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | USA | Cole Turner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | USA | Jack de Vries | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | USA | Jack McGlynn | 25 | 0 | 7+12 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | USA | Anthony Fontana | 15 | 2 | 2+8 | 0 | 3+1 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | SVK | Matej Oravec | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | BRA | Ilsinho | 6 | 0 | 0+5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | USA | Paxten Aaronson | 17 | 3 | 5+9 | 3 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | USA | Leon Flach | 43 | 1 | 31+3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | USA | Quinn Sullivan | 24 | 2 | 4+17 | 2 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | USA | Brandan Craig | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 17 | FW | BRA | Sergio Santos | 32 | 6 | 17+9 | 6 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | JAM | Cory Burke | 25 | 4 | 10+9 | 4 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | POL | Kacper Przybyłko | 43 | 17 | 29+5 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
Source: Player Stats and Match reports in Competitions
* ↑ Loaned in during the season
* 1 2 Loaned out during the season