PHILADELPHIA UNION SIGN CHRIS DONOVAN TO CONTRACT EXTENSION
Chris Donovan, a striker, has signed a contract extension with the Philadelphia Union. The 23-year-old Donovan’s path to the Union first team roster has been an intriguing one, but as a soccer fan, these are the kinds of tales that captivate you. Donovan was released by the Columbus Crew after failing to make the team during the preseason following his selection by the Crew in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. Donovan signed an MLS Next Pro deal with the Philadelphia Union 2 following his release. Later on, Donovan would agree to an MLS deal with the
Union in the summer of 2022, but he would play most of the season with the Union 2. Throughout his 22 Union 2 games in 2022, he would rack up 8 goals and 3 assists. However, as I previously stated, he would go on to play in six MLS regular season games and even get one minute during their MLS Cup Playoffs loss to LAFC.
Donovan would return to the Union and Union II rosters in 2023. Donovan would participate in 12 MLS Next Pro games with the Union II and 29 Union games overall. In the U.S. Open Cup, Donovan would score his first goal for the Union against Minnesota United. He would also score his first goal in Major League Soccer (MLS) against NYCFC, his first goal against Queretaro in the Leagues Cup, and his first goal against the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup Playoffs. By the end of the 2023 campaign, he would have scored 10 goals (4 for the
Union), nearly 1,600 minutes played (768 for the Union), and 4 assists (1 for the Union). It has been amazing to observe his growth from 2022 to 2023. Given this contract extension, I anticipate Donovan becoming a key member of the Union’s first squad in 2024. This very off-season, Julian Carranza might be traded to Europe. As Carranza’s successor up top next to Mikael Uhre, Donovan may face competition from Tai Baribo and Quinn Sullivan.
