Philadelphia Union set to sign USMNT defender from Ligue 1 side originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The last offseason saw the Philadelphia Union dump several former players to other teams in the league, including their leading goalscorer from the prior season, Tai Baribo, to DC United; Jakob Glesnes to the LA Galaxy; and Kai Wagner to EFL Championship side Birmingham City. Simply put, some of the bigger names for the clubs all went in a single window.
This fleet of departures wasn't helped out at all after the team failed to make any meaningful signings in the transfer market, which could've been a key contributing factor in why the team went from the top team in the Eastern Conference last season to dead last heading into the World Cup break earlier in the Summer.
Just as the team appears to be getting itself together, chaining some crucial wins in the MLS and shooting up the table in a last-ditch playoff push, the front office has been busy adding to the roster, mainly their defense.
Union to welcome back Mark McKenzie💣🇺🇸 BREAKING: The Philadelphia Union are finalizing a deal to sign USMNT center back Mark McKenzie from FC Toulouse in January, per sources.
- Fee around $2.5m. McKenzie will be a DP
- Toulouse made clear no summer departure, so move for January agreed
- McKenzie, 27, returns…
According to a recent report by The Athletic's Tom Bogert, Philadelphia is nearing a deal to bring Mark McKenzie back to Subaru Park, six years after his departure from the MLS, with the deal being close to $2.5 million.
"The Philadelphia Union are finalizing a deal to sign U.S. national team center back Mark McKenzie from FC Toulouse..." states Bogert. "The Union will pay a fee in the region of $2.5 million for the USMNT defender, sources say."
McKenzie made the move to Europe with Belgian side Genk before swapping the Jupiler Pro League for Ligue 1 with Toulouse, where he has spent the last two seasons. This move across the pond has coincided with a rise in his profile, having made appearances for the United States Men's National Team during the 2026 World Cup, as well as the 2024 Copa America and 2025 Gold Cup.
One important thing to note is that the transfer won't happen this season for the Union, as McKenzie will return to Subaru Park in January, during the MLS offseason. This means the American has the opportunity to keep making appearances for Toulouse before moving back to the United States.
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