Development has long stood as a pillar of the Philadelphia Union’s identity, and that was exemplified on Saturday as Philadelphia Union Academy product Nathan Harriel achieved a major personal milestone.
Two days after celebrating his 25th birthday, he became the first Homegrown in club history to start 100 Major League Soccer games, appearing in the team’s starting XI for the 10th time in 2026.
“I’m truly blessed for everything I've achieved so far in my career. I never would have imagined that this would happen if you told me when I was a 15 or 16-year-old kid back home. I'm just really grateful,” Harriel said.
The honor is one of Harriel’s many accomplishments since arriving in Philadelphia. His tenure in the city of Brotherly Love started in 2019, when he was recruited to the Philadelphia Union academy by Jon Scheer, who, at the time, served as the club’s Director of Scouting, but has since been promoted to Director of Academy and Professional Development, and now Interim Sporting Director.
Scheer brought Harriel to the club from Clearwater Chargers in Oldsmar, Florida, midway through his senior year. He was originally committed to play collegiate soccer at Clemson University, but ultimately decided to finish high school in Philly at YSC Academy and pursue the club’s renowned Pathway to the Pros. It was a life-changing choice that very quickly paid off in dividends – after successful showings at the second team level, he earned a first team contract that went into effect in January 2021, becoming the club’s 13th Homegrown.
In the five years since signing that first MLS contract, Harriel’s found immense success as a Philadelphia Union player, winning an Eastern Conference Championship, representing club and country in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and most recently contributing 2,098 invaluable minutes to the club’s 2026 Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign.
So far in 2026, Harriel has started every MLS match for the team, stepping up across the backline and contributing a goal and two assists.
While still a young player, he’s grown into a respected veteran voice in the locker room, earning an important role in the team’s leadership council as a captain. He wore the armband twice this season against Club América in both legs of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16.
Harriel’s proven himself as an invaluable keystone of the club on and off the pitch, and in April, he was rewarded with a contract extension that will keep him in Philly through the 2029-29 season with an option for 2029-30.
“It's really special to be at one club for such a long time. I'm not from Philadelphia originally, but this is almost like a second home,” Harriel said.
“If you told me seven years ago that I'd be at this point in my life right now as a kid from Florida, I would probably say you're insane, and I wouldn't think that, but I'm extremely grateful, extremely blessed just to be able to continue my time here.”
