Philadelphia Union Sign Chris Donovan To Contract Extension

The Philadelphia Union have signed striker Chris Donovan to a contract extension. The 23 year old Donovan has had an interesting journey to the Union’s 1st team roster, but these are the stories you have to love as a soccer fan. After being selected by the Columbus Crew in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, Donovan would fail to make the Crew’s roster during the preseason and be let go by the club. After being let go, Donovan signed a MLS Next Pro contract with the Philadelphia Union 2. Donovan would later sign a MLS contract with the Union during the summer of 2022, but he would predominantly play for the Union 2 during that season. In his 22 games for the Union 2 during 2022, he would score 8 goals and have 3 assists. But, as I mentioned, with his MLS contract he would go on to make 6 MLS regular season appearances and even get a minute played within their MLS Cup Playoffs loss to LAFC in MLS Cup. 

In 2023, Donovan would once again feature for both the Union and Union II. Donovan would play in 29 games for the Union and an additional 12 for the Union II down in MLS Next Pro. Donovan would score his 1st goal for the Union against Minnesota United in the U.S. Open Cup, score his first MLS goal against NYCFC, score his first international goal against Queretaro in Leagues Cup, and even score his first MLS Cup Playoffs goal against the New England Revolution. He would finish his 2023 campaign with; 10 goals (4 for the Union), 4 assists (1 for the Union), and almost 1,600 minutes played (768 for the Union). His growth from 2022 to 2023 has been fantastic to see. With this contract extension I would expect Donovan to play a prominent role with the Union’s 1st team in 2024. We could see Julian Carranza being sold to Europe this very off-season. With Carranza gone, Donovan could be competing with Tai Baribo and Quinn Sullivan as the Carranza replacement up top next to Mikael Uhre.