TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signings
Just days after claiming the first trophy in their history, the Philadelphia Union continued to look toward a bright future, announcing the signing of academy products Brandan Craig and Quinn Sullivan to Homegrown player contracts on Thursday.
The duo are the 16th and 17th Homegrown signings in club history and, with both aged 16, also two of the youngest.
“These are two young, promising players who have fit in well with our system at every level of their development,” said Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner in a team release. “Both players excelled at our academy, which is one of the most challenging environments for young talents. Their work ethic is evident by their quick ascension and success with Union II where they were able to make early, immediate impacts.
"Brandan has a strong set piece delivery and impressive passing range for his age. Quinn is strong in the tackle, covers an incredible amount of ground, and has the precise type of tenacious attitude we want in our squad. The best academies continually produce new and exciting talents, and to me, these players are further proof of concept. We look forward to welcoming them to the first team.”
Craig, a defensive midfielder, played four seasons for the Union Academy, appearing in 85 games, including 66 starts and scoring 14 goals. In 2020, he joined Union II and started 11 of 14 games, as well as becoming the youngest captain in Union II history on Sept. 2.
Sullivan, a midfielder, also played four seasons for the Union academy. He started 66 of his 90 games played and scored 32 goals in that time, including a 19-goal season in 2018-2019 with the U-15s. Sullivan saw his first minutes with Union II on July 19 and went on to play in nine more games for the USL Championship side.
