Ahead of this weekend's kick off of a new MLS NEXT season, Philadelphia Union Academy announced today its 2025-26 signing class for upcoming season.
The Union added 22 players during the summer period to bolster the best Academy in Major League Soccer. The Union Academy is coming off another championship winning season which saw the U-15s claim their first-ever MLS NEXT Cup.
"We are proud to welcome a new group of young and exciting talent to our academy," Philadelphia Union Director of Academy and Professional Development Jon Scheer said. "They will add to the standard of an already highly competitive player pool, which is crucial to the sustainability of our player development pathway. We thank the leadership and staff of the clubs these players are coming from, who have played a massive role in their development and deserve a ton of credit."
"We are very excited to welcome this impressive group of athletes from across the country to Philadelphia," Philadelphia Union Head of Academy Scouting & Professional Development Paul Killian said. "These players all have excellent potential and the competitive mentality that we search for in the scouting and recruitment process. We are confident they will be great representatives of the Philadelphia Union organization, and we are excited to get to work"
Below you can find the 2025 signing class.
- Ben Baiocchi (2012, FC DELCO)
- Sebastian Blanco (2013, Skyline)
- Gino Cecere (2012, Beadling SC)
- Filipe Cruz (2011, Sporting AC)
- Aindan Gayle (2010, Real Futbol Academy)
- Austin Gayle (2012, Real Futbol Academy)
- KJ Kushner (2012, Philadelphia Ukrainians)
- Jude Larbi (2011, Eastside FC)
- Robbie Melendez (2012, Michigan Wolves)
- Nathan Pine (2010, Sporting AC)
- Lane Postlethwait (2013, Sporting AC)
- Austin Rainwater (2012, Real Futbol Academy)
- Troy Raneses (2011, Sacramento Republic)
- Theo Read (2008, Sporting AC)
- Keller Reese (2012, Penn Fusion)
- Michael Sarcewicz (2013, VE Club)
- Grant Simmonds (2011, Richmond United)
- Kai Simmonds (2011, Richmond United)
- Jayden Staines (2011, Sacramento Republic)
- Ryan Tamm (2011, SC Del Sol)
- Matthew White (2009, San Jose Earthquakes)
- Thomas White (2011, San Jose Earthquakes)
Philadelphia Union Academy opens its new season this weekend as the U-14s and U-13s host FC DELCO at the Widener University Turf Fields at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex on Saturday, September 6th. The following weekend sees the Union Academy's Senior teams open the season as the U-15s, U-16s and U-18s travel to rivals New York Red Bulls.
All four matches will be streamed for free for fans to watch the next generation of Union talent and can be viewed by clicking here.
